The decision by the Brazilian government to suspend anti-dumping duties against hot-rolled coil (HRC) imports from China and Russia was motivated not only by fears that the measure would injure consuming sectors, but also by concerns that it would affect cooperation between the countries.
"The imposition of the [anti-dumping] measure could affect the political agenda of economic cooperation with two countries that provide the product - China and Russia - which are both members of the BRICS [economies]," according to a decision published by national foreign trade chamber Camex in the country's official gazette late on Friday January 19.Emerging BRIC countries includes Brazil, China, Russia, India and South Africa."The imposition of trade measures could injure the relationship with its major trade partner, China," a source at a Brazilian steel producer said."The analysis [of a trade case] is strictly technical, but the deliberation is political," a Brazil-based lawyer specializing in trade defense told Metal Bulletin on Monday January 22.Camex decided on Thursday January 18 to establish five-year anti-dumping duties against imports of Chinese and Russian HRC, but suspended the measure for one year due to "public interest." The government also considered that anti-dumping measures would...