Argentine anti-dumping ruling on Chinese-made denim

On September 10th, 2010, the Ministry of Industry of Argentina announced its final anti-dumping decision regarding denim imports from China. The investigation, which began on March 30, 2009, concluded that Chinese denim was being sold at dumped prices in the Argentine market. As a result, the government imposed a minimum FOB price of $3.13 per square meter for denim imported from China. This regulation came into effect immediately and remained valid for five years. Importers who declared a price lower than the set minimum would be required to pay tariffs based on the reference price. The measure aimed to protect local manufacturers from unfair competition caused by low-priced imports. The case involved several customs codes, including 5208.430, 5210.4910, 5209.4420, 5209.4290, 5212.1210, and 5211.4290. Prior to the final ruling, an initial determination was made on November 9, 2009, where an interim minimum price of $3.13/m FOB was established. This temporary measure was applied from November 14, 2009, and lasted for four months before the final decision was made. This anti-dumping action reflects Argentina's ongoing efforts to maintain fair trade practices and support domestic industries facing pressure from foreign competitors. The extended validity period of the ruling underscores the seriousness with which the government is addressing the issue of unfair pricing in the textile sector.