The Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat, decided to impose an anti-dumping duty on imports of aluminum profiles and aluminum tubes from China for a period of 5 years, according to TPS-IL. The decision was made after fully adopting the recommendations of the Commissioner for Trade Duties at the Ministry of Economy and Industry, Danny Tal, who conducted the investigation, and of the advisory committee, which examined the investigation and its findings, which determined that imports from China are being made at unfair prices (“dumping”) that cause real damage to the local industry.

Anti-dumping duties are a legal trade tool anchored in World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements and are considered one of the most central and common defense tools in international trade, explained Israel’s Import Administration. According to the organization, over the past decade, between 100 and 150 new anti-dumping investigations have been initiated worldwide each year, with China being the country most investigated by a significant margin.

Since 2018, there has been a continuous increase in the number of investigations and levies, against the backdrop of global overcapacity, mainly in the metal, aluminum, and heavy industry sectors. The United States alone currently has hundreds of anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties in force, and the European Union has dozens of active investigations and levies – many of them at rates of tens or even hundreds of percent. Countries with open trade policies, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, also consistently use this tool as part of their routine toolbox to protect fair competition.