Media release
WTIA backs stronger anti-dumping regime
The Welding Technology Institute of Australia will support the Federal Government’s plan
to “tighten up” Australia’s anti-dumping regime.
Assistant Minister for Science Karen Andrews told WTIA’s conference in Sydney this week
the anti-dumping system was “not working perfectly and [it] hasn’t for some time”.
She said the Turnbull Government was committed to “tightening up” the process, “but it’s a
big ship to turn around”.
WTIA CEO Geoff Crittenden said he agreed with Ms Andrews’s call for changes to “level the
playing field”, but was reticent to back her assessment the 155-day time limit for an initial
investigation of an anti-dumping submission was “too short”.
“We appreciate extensions are sometimes needed, but it is important the timeframes don’t
stretch out too long. Currently, investigations are up to 400 days. That was unprecedented
in the past when equally complex cases were concluded with only 30-day extensions. When
dumping is occurring, injury is continuing for the Australian industry while the investigation
process is in train,” he said.
“Although multiple extensions to investigation timeframes are currently possible, there is
also provision within the regulations for the Federal Government to impose preliminary
measures against allegedly dumped imports while investigations continue. That can occur as
early as 60 days after an investigation is initiated and is designed to balance all parties’
interests in a fair and rigorous investigation.”
But Mr Crittenden said unfortunately for the Australian steel industry, the preliminary
measures were seldom applied.
“The Australian steel industry is under severe threat and, if we lose it, we’ll be importing
fabricated products as well as raw materials and the welding industry’s decline will follow,”
he said.
Mr Crittenden said dumping and circumvention (overseas producers making minor product
modifications to bypass tariffs) were very serious issues impacting on Australia’s tenuous
steel industry.
WTIA strongly supports Independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon’s plan to
introduce new legislation to strengthen standards for steel products imported to Australia.
Senator Xenophon told the WTIA conference he wants a law to disclose and regulate boron
levels in steel and require compliance with new, mandated standards.
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The Senator is also planning legislation to enforce local procurement rules and ensure they
consider whole-of-life project costs, not just raw material prices.
Mr Crittenden said there was nothing in current structural steel material and welding
standards to manage use of steel containing boron and other alloys.
“Deliberate additions of unspecified boron content increase the risk of welds cracking. This
is a major safety issue. There are ticking time bombs all around Australia that put people at
risk. There are masses of structures that may be unsafe,” he said.
“It’s vital Senator Xenophon’s legislation be passed as soon as possible.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Geoff Crittenden, CEO, Welding Technology Institute of Australia, ph 0439 944 033, email
[email protected]
Released by: Kate Tilley, WTIA Communications Consultant, ph (07) 3831 7500 or 0418
741606, email [email protected]
Release date: 30 October 2015
About WTIA
The Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA) is a national non-profit, membershipbased body representing the Australian welding industry’s interests. It has 300 member
companies and 1,200 individual members. WTIA facilitates technology transfers and
research & development; certifies personnel; conducts education and training; and provides
technical services to members.
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