The Effectiveness of Anti-Dumping in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

The effectiveness of anti-dumping as a trade remedy in Trinidad and Tobago is examined from the perspectives of interested parties, including the producer, the importer, the foreign exporter, the consumer, and the Fair Trading Unit. The law could be more effective if specific challenges were addressed, namely issues related to the collection of evidence to formulate a complaint (especially normal value and export price); the proper completion of questionnaires; the lack of financial resources, technical expertise, public awareness, and cooperation by relevant parties; and the constraints under which the Fair Trading Unit operates. The Fair Trading Unit must take the recommendations of the interested parties into consideration and ensure that proposals are developed and incorporated into the Act and Regulations, including proposals such as realistic timeframes; accessibility to documents; financial assistance; the simplification of questionnaires, consultations prior to investigation; increase public awareness; the development of technical expertise; the establishment of linkages; and the revisiting of the Act and Regulations. Only then would the anti-dumping regime be regarded as an effective trade remedy in Trinidad and Tobago.