(Source: "China Business News" 2024-12-29)
Recently, the Ministry of Commerce has launched a safeguard measure investigation into imported beef.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said that recently, the China Animal Husbandry Association, together with nine major producing area associations, submitted an application for safeguard measures to the investigation agency, believing that China’s beef imports have increased sharply in recent years, which has had a major adverse impact on the domestic industry.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said that the evidence submitted by the applicant showed that China’s beef imports increased by 65% between 2019 and 2023, and the import volume in the first half of 2024 was more than double that of the first half of 2019. Under the impact of imported products, domestic industries have suffered serious damage.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said that in accordance with Chinese laws and in compliance with World w88 Organization (WTO) rules, when the number of imported products increases and causes serious damage or the threat of serious damage to domestic industries that produce similar products or directly competitive products, the investigation agency can initiate a safeguard measure investigation at the request of the domestic industry to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the domestic industry.
Li Siqi, associate professor at the China World w88 Organization Research Institute at the w88 casino, told China Business News that in WTO law, safeguard measures are one of the w88 remedy measures that WTO members can take.
She explained that WTO members can initiate safeguard measures when the quantity of imports increases sharply and causes serious damage or threat of serious damage to related domestic industries. The purpose is to protect domestic industries from damage caused by the surge in imports and help domestic industries adjust during the implementation period of safeguard measures. Therefore, safeguard measures are also known as "safety valves."
Investigation of safeguard measures taken by the Ministry of Commerce on imported beef (Source: China Business News)
Investigation Procedure
Information from the Ministry of Commerce shows that based on the evidence provided by the applicant and the preliminary review by the Ministry of Commerce, the applicant complies with the provisions of Articles 3 and 10 of the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Safeguard Measures" regarding domestic industries' application for safeguard measure investigation.
The application claims that the import quantity of the products subject to investigation has increased sharply from 2019 to the first half of 2024. The growth rate in 2023 will be 64.93% compared to 2019, and the first half of 2024 will be 106.28% higher than the first half of 2019. From 2019 to the first half of 2024, the import volume of products subject to investigation increased from 20.55% to 30.90% of the Chinese market, and the proportion relative to China's total output increased from 24.87% to 43.87%.
The applicant also claimed that the sharp increase in the import quantity of the products applied for investigation had an impact on China's domestic industry, and China's domestic industry was seriously damaged, and that there was a causal relationship between the increase in the import quantity of the products applied for investigation and the serious damage suffered by China's domestic industry.
After review, the Ministry of Commerce believes that the application contains the content and relevant evidence required for statutory safeguard investigation and filing.
It is reported that the investigation period determined for this investigation is from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2024. Specifically, the product under investigation is beef (Meat of bovine animals), which is beef products after slaughter and processing of live cattle (Bovine), including fresh, cold or frozen whole and half heads of beef, bone-in beef and boneless beef.
According to Article 12 of the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Safeguard Measures", the Ministry of Commerce may use questionnaires, hearings, etc. to learn about the situation from interested parties and conduct investigations.
Interested parties can apply to the Ministry of Commerce for a hearing, and can check relevant information about the hearing on the w88 Remedy and Investigation Bureau sub-website of the Ministry of Commerce website.
When the Ministry of Commerce conducts an investigation, interested parties should truthfully report the situation and provide relevant information. The information provided by interested parties should be in standard Chinese. Non-Chinese information should be submitted in Chinese translation and original text, and the Chinese translation shall prevail. If an interested party fails to truthfully report the situation or provide relevant information, or fails to provide necessary information within a reasonable time, or otherwise seriously hinders the investigation, the Ministry of Commerce may make a ruling based on the facts that have been obtained and the best information available.
This investigation will begin on December 27, 2024, and will usually be completed within 8 months. It may be extended appropriately under special circumstances.
Does not distinguish the origin of products, and normal w88 will not be affected during the investigation
A spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce stated that it needs to be emphasized that the safeguard measure investigation does not target specific countries and regions, does not distinguish the origin of products, and will not affect normal w88 during the investigation period. The investigation agency will conduct investigations in accordance with the law, fully protect the rights of all interested parties, and make objective and fair rulings based on the investigation results. China is willing to maintain communication with all parties on this case, conduct friendly consultations, accommodate each other's concerns, and jointly maintain a healthy and stable international economic and w88 environment.
Li Siqi told China Business News that it is legal and reasonable for my country to initiate a safeguard measure investigation on imported beef. "Under the impact of imported beef products, my country's related industries have suffered serious damage. In accordance with Article 3 of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Safeguard Measures, the Ministry of Commerce decided to initiate a safeguard measure investigation on imported beef, which is in line with my country's legal provisions and WTO rules, and is also in line with the actual needs of my country's industry," Li Siqi said.
Simply put, safeguard measures are one of the three w88 remedy measures allowed by the WTO.
w88 remedy measures refer to a temporary w88 restriction measure that each country can implement when a country's imports of a certain product increase too fast and cause damage to the domestic industry.
The difference between safeguard measures and anti-dumping and countervailing measures is that they target imports from all countries, rather than imports from specific companies or countries; the increase in imports targeted by safeguard measures is not due to unfair competition, not because the companies or governments of the other country have violated WTO rules or violated fair w88, but refers to the surge in imports caused by unpredictable market conditions, which has caused damage or adverse effects on domestic industries. At this time, the importing party can adopt temporary w88 restrictive measures to reduce imports and provide domestic industries with opportunities to adjust. After a period of time, the temporary w88 restrictive measures can be lifted.
Li Siqi also told China Business News that it is common for international organizations to initiate safeguard measures investigations. According to WTO statistics, from 1995 to June 30, 2024, a total of 55 WTO members initiated 431 safeguard measures investigations. This shows that safeguard measures, as a means of w88 remedies, are adopted by many members under the WTO framework.
According to the data in the "Application for Investigation of Beef Safeguard Measures" seen by the reporter, taking the beef import statistics in the first half of 2023 as an example, Brazil accounts for 43% of China's total beef imports, Argentina accounts for 19.25%, Uruguay accounts for 10.03%, Australia accounts for 8.27%, New Zealand accounts for 7.53% and the United States accounts for 5.70%. The combined share of the above six countries is 93.78%.
Source: "Application for Investigation of Beef Safeguard Measures"
Roberto Perosa, president of the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association, is reported to have said that Brazilian producers can remain competitive even if tariffs increase. The association will also work to open new markets for Brazilian beef, hoping to diversify exports in the long term. Perosa said efforts included negotiations with Japan, Vietnam, South Korea and Türkiye.
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, w88 and Foreign Affairs said in a joint statement that Brazil will work hard to prove that its beef exports will not cause any form of damage to the Chinese industry, but will only supplement local production.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation said it is aware of the investigation and will monitor its progress.
Miguel Schiariti, head of Argentine beef industry group Ciccra, said Argentina is a much smaller exporter and therefore unlikely to be a target of any potential tariffs from China.
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