AFGC WELCOMES DUMPING DUTIES ON ITALIAN TOMATO PRODUCTS

The Australian Food and Grocery Council welcomes the announcement today that the Australian Government will apply dumping duties on all canned tomatoes from Italy.

A previous anti-dumping investigation into canned tomatoes found that 103 of the 105 exporters from Italy were illegally dumping products in Australia and duties were applied. Today’s decision applies duties on the remaining exporters: 8.4 per cent on Feger tomato products, and 4.5 per cent on La Doria tomato products.

In its submission to the Anti-Dumping Commission, AFGC member company SPC estimated that from 2010 to 2014 the processed tomato industry in Italy received more than €900 million (approximately AUD$ 1.2 billion) worth of subsidies through programs under the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy.

“The decision today recognises the impact of these subsidies on the Australian agri-food sector. In the past, subsidies which reduce the prices paid by Italian tomato processors for raw tomatoes have not been taken into consideration when assessing for dumping duties” said AFGC’s Chief Executive Officer, Gary Dawson.

“Food and grocery processing is Australia’s largest manufacturing sector and its competitiveness is currently under pressure from high and rising input costs, retail price deflation and high compliance costs”.

“In this environment the threat of product dumping is a serious issue warranting the tougher anti-dumping measures introduced by the Federal Government. Today’s decision by the Australian Government sends a message to our international competitors that Australia is not an easy target for dumping goods.”

“Australia is regarded as a high quality, safe and premium food producer. The food industry and the growers supplying it want to compete with international manufacturers and producers on a level playing field. This type of action gives our food processors and growers the opportunity to do just that,” said Mr Dawson.

 

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AFGC Media Contact: James Mathews 0407 416 002