The South African trade regulator, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) has recommended the renewal of anti-dumping duties on imports of chicken portions from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The recommendation to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition follows a successful application by the SA Poultry Association (SAPA). The duties, first imposed in 2015, were set to expire in 2020 but ITAC has recommended that they be renewed for a further five years.
The decision affects frozen bone-in imports from the three countries, with only four producers – three in the UK and one in the Netherlands – excluded. Dumped bone-in portions, such as leg quarters, wings and drumsticks, are the imports that do most damage to the local poultry industry.
ITAC recommended a continuation of existing anti-dumping duties on bone-in imports – 30.09% on chicken portions from the UK, 22.81% on chicken portions from the Netherlands and 73.33% on chicken portions from Germany.
It found that, should the anti-dumping duties be removed, that there was a likelihood that dumping would continue, causing material harm to the local poultry industry.
The decision has been welcomed by the local poultry industry. Izaak Breitenbach, head of the broiler division at SAPA, said removal of the duties would have been “disastrous” for the industry, with a loss of revenue, profits, market share and jobs at a time when the industry was already under severe pressure.
