Bloomberg News
Tshepiso Mokhema
South Africa imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of some chicken products from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
The South African Revenue Service placed taxes of 3.9% to 73% on frozen bone-in chicken portions from a number of firms in the three European countries following a recommendation from the country’s International Trade Administration Commission, ITAC said in a statement.
The nation implemented provisional duties in July after the country’s Poultry Association requested an investigation into alleged dumping of chicken piece exports. ITAC found in its final determination that chicken products were exported to South Africa at “dumped prices,” and that the local industry had suffered “material injury” from price undercutting.
“All we really want is for the developed world not to treat South Africa as a repository for it’s surplus waste product at unfair prices,” Kevin Lovell, head of the poultry association, said by phone from Washington. “The onus is on the developed world to act properly.”
The Johannesburg-based Association of Meat Importers and Exporters said it is studying ITAC’s conclusions and will consider its options.
“Any protectionist action to support an industry that does not need special treatment will always be detrimental to the interests of the consumer in the form of price increases, the limitation of choice, and a threat to food security,” David Wolpert, head of the importers’ organization, said Monday in an e-mailed response to questions.