The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled in favor of Costa Rica in the dispute over the anti-dumping measures imposed by the Dominican Republic on imports of steel bars deformed for concrete reinforcement originating in Costa Rica.
The multilateral organization has considered that the measure constitutes a case of nullification or impairment on the benefits accruing to Costa Rica under the Antidumping Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
Thus, it has recommended to the Dominican Republic that it put its measures in accordance with their obligations under both agreements.
This dispute referred to a challenge to the anti-dumping measures imposed by the Dominican Republic on imports of deformed steel bars for concrete reinforcement originating in Costa Rica. Costa Rica challenged the determination of the existence of dumping and the calculation of the margin of dumping by the investigating authority of the Dominican Republic in matters of antidumping duties.
Costa Rica also challenged the determination by this authority of the existence of injury in relation to imports dumped originating in Costa Ricaas well as various procedural aspects of the investigation.
Costa Rica based its claim on the argument that it has shown that the Dominican Republic has imposed anti-dumping duties that exceed the margin of dumping that it should have established under Article 2 of the Antidumping Agreement. For its part, the Dominican Republic has criticized that Costa Rica’s allegation lacked foundation.