Distortion of international trade by discriminatory application of antidumping regulations

Dumping is the process by which products of one country are introduced into the commerce of another country at less than the normal value of the products, thus causing or threatening material injury to established industries in the territory of the second country, or materially retarding the establishment of a domestic industry. Anti-dumping procedures have been elaborated to counteract such activities which can however be applied in a discriminatory manner: a lengthy period may be required to process antidumping cases; and appraisal for customs purposes may be withheld until a definitive determination has been made as to whether there were sales at less than the domestic market price and, if so, whether material injury resulted. Such practices create considerable uncertainty in trading relations and thereby bring about an appreciable decline in the trade of certain types of goods.