Press Releases

1. On June 19, 2023, the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel issued its report on "China – Anti-Dumping Measures on Stainless Steel Products from Japan", a case Japan had filed its complaints againt China. The panel report finds that China's measures are inconsistent with the WTO Agreement, and recommends China to bring its measures into conformity with its obligations under the WTO Agreement.
2. Japan calls on China to take the findings of this report seriously and promptly bring its WTO-inconsistent measures into conformity with its obligations under the WTO Agreement.

[Background Information]

1. In July 2019, China started imposing anti-dumping (AD) duties (hereinafter referred to as the "AD measure") on stainless steel products imported from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and the EU, claiming that its domestic industry was being injured by the dumped imports of such products.
2. Japan considered the AD measure to be inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994) and the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-Dumping Agreement) due to flaws in the Chinese investigating authorities' investigation procedures and determination. Japan filed for a WTO dispute settlement procedure in June 2021, subsequently requested the establishment of a panel, and the panel was established in September 2021.
3. The panel report found that China violated its obligations under the WTO Agreement when it took AD measures against Japanese stainless steel products, in that the Chinese investigating authorities found adverse effects on Chinese domestic products without considering the price range of the subject imports and differences in competitive relationships; and recommended that China rectify its measures.
4. Pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the panel report is due to be adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) within 60 days after the date of circulation of the report to the Members (which is the same date as the public issuance of the report), and the findings become final and binding upon the adoption.