DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s issuance of a law on the ‘unified regulation on anti-dumping, countervailing and preventive measures for GCC countries’ will help Qatar protect its domestic industry and local businesses, say experts.
The law empowers the country to restrict the free flow of subsidised goods into the local market at competitive prices. Subsidised goods often allow producers to sell their products a lower price in foreign markets and help compete with the same products of the importing countries. The flooding of foreign subsidised products in Qatari market will have adverse effect on the local industry.
According to the relevant section of the law, a panel comprising GCC Industries ministers, will decide on the quantum of the customs duty to be imposed on the subsidised imported products. Any disputes arising out of the import of subsidised products will be settled by this panel. In addition to this panel, there is another Permanent Committee, which will support the interest of the local market.
Complaints on violations of the law have to be filed by the GCC industry or its representative, by the concerned Chamber of Commerce and Industry, producers union or by any ministry in charge of the production sector in any of the GCC member states. A complaint against dumping, subsidy or an unjustifiable increase in import shall be submitted to the Technical Secretariat in writing on the form prepared for this purpose.
The decision by the Ministerial Committee or the Permanent Committee may be appealed against before the competent judicial board composed of the members of GCC countries chaired by a selected jury. The Peninsula
