Yesterday, Brazil levies anti-dumping duties on potato products from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France. The supplier is received a list, how much individual companies with punitive tariffs will be charged and how long the measure will last. The Government in Brasilia relies on advice from the Department of commercial Defense (DECOM).
The research of DECOM started after complained local rapporteur from the potato sector on unfair competition from Europe. According to the reports massive amounts should have been returned in the period July 2015 and June 2016 cheap TK potato products from Western Europe to Brazil.
The WTO provides the complainants the possibility of anti-dumping proceedings, when the supposedly damaged Government can explain that the product prices of the imported goods in the country of origin are higher than for the importer.
The influence on the Dutch and Belgian potato processors is large. In the period December 2014 to November 2015, the Netherlands exported 83,000 tonnes of potato products to Brazil, which corresponds to a raw material volume of 166,000 tons. Belgium exported 71,000 tons of potato products to Brazil, which corresponds to 142,000 tonnes of raw materials. Both countries now seek to avert the decision of Brazil through the diplomatic channel.
