China said Mexico continued to impose anti-dumping measures on a large number of Chinese goods under a provision of China's Protocol of Accession that had lapsed in December 2007. It urged Mexico to take positive and proactive steps to put these measures back on the normal track, adding that it would be seeking a mutually acceptable solution through bilateral consultations. Mexico said it would continue bilateral consultations with China on this matter to achieve a mutually acceptable solution.

On Canada's anti-dumping action against Chinese seamless carbon or alloy steel oil and gas well casings, China complained that Canada's investigating authority had failed to take into consideration a large amount of information it had provided showing that the industry concerned was not controlled by the government. China said that Canada's treatment of the product as coming from a non-market economy had resulted in high anti-dumping margins. Canada noted there were avenues of appeal in its courts or in the WTO.

Regarding the EU, China expressed concerns about what it described as discriminatory treatment against Chinese firms as compared with European companies with Chinese affiliates in anti-dumping actions on iron and steel fasteners, citric acid and air compressors.

The United States asked for the status of the following anti-dumping actions: Brazil on presensitized offset plate; India on acrylic fibre and flexible slabstock polyol; Indonesia on paracetamol; Mexico on apples and stearic acid; and South Africa on PVC and chicken.

Egypt expressed concern that South Africa maintains anti-dumping duties on carbon black from Egypt four years after the normal termination date.

The Committee reviewed notifications of new national legislation from Albania, China, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua and, at the request of China, conducted further review of previously reviewed legislative notifications from Canada, the EU and the United States.

The Chair, Mr Gareth Meyer (Australia), reported on meetings held on the same day of two subsidiary groups of the Committee.

On the Informal Group on Anti-Circumvention, he said that members continued to discuss the issue of "bundling" of invoices raised by New Zealand.

The Working Group on Implementation discussed two papers: on foreign exchange fluctuations – Article 2.4.1 (from New Zealand); and on export prices to third countries or constructed normal value – Article 2.2 (from the EU). The Chair noted that members had decided for the time being not to continue discussions on a draft recommendation concerning conduct of verification in the light of specific changes proposed in this regard by the Chair of the Negotiating Group on Rules.

The Committee elected by acclamation Mr Jorge Huerta Goldman (Mexico) as its new Chair. It also elected as Vice-chair Mr Pasquale de Micco (Italy).

The next meeting is scheduled for the week of 27 October 2008.