The World Trade Organisation Secretariat last week reported declines in both new antidumping investigations and new final antidumping measures, in the period July 1 – December 31 2004, compared with the corresponding period in 2003.

This continued a declining trend of new measures noted in the first half of 2004.

The European Communities, with 17 initiations, reported the highest number of new investigations during the 2004 period.

China remained the most frequent subject of new investigations, with 25 initiations directed at its exports during July-December 2004.

The products that were the subject of new investigations during the second half of 2004 were led by products in the chemicals sector, followed by plastics and base metals.

Concerning application of new final anti-dumping measures, India headed the list during the second half of 2004, applying 23 of the 91 total new measures reported.

Products exported from China remained the most frequent subject of new measures, accounting for 25 of the 91 total measures reported.