Malaysia Imposes Anti-Dumping Import Duty on Indonesian Paper
Monday, 08 January, 2007 | 12:23 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Malaysian government has imposed a temporary anti-dumping import duty of between 3.4 and 13.53 percent on Indonesian paper products made from corrugating medium paper.

This decision was made as of December 24 last year in response to proof that Indonesian paper producers were involved in dumping activities.

In addition, an investigation into these alleged dumping activities has been conducted by the Malaysian government since July 27, 2006.

This investigation was a follow up to a petition that Malaysian Pulp and Paper Manufacturers Association had previously proposed.

In the petition, the association said it considered that the domestic paper manufacturing industry was materially injured due to this dumping.

In addition to Indonesia, other suspected countries include Australia, China, the European Union, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Data on the Malaysian Ministry of Trade and International Industry’s website stated that five Indonesian companies were proved to have carried out dumping activities and enjoyed profit margins of between 3.4 and 13.53 percent.

These companies include PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper Tbk., PT Fajar Surya Wisesa Tbk., PT Jaya Kertas Tbk., PT Dayasempurna Cellulosatama and PT Pakerin.

Martua Sihombing, Director of Trade Security, said he considered that the import duty imposed was low compared to the amount of duty imposed on other countries with similar accusations.

“Today, Indonesia has the lowest import duty imposed, that of three percent on paper, compared to other countries with between five and 13 percent,” he said on Friday (01/05) in Jakarta.

Martua explained that the low import duty was imposed since Indonesian manufacturers were cooperative during the investigation process, unlike with Korea, for instance.

“They did not provide complete information and they exceeded the deadline. So, (they were) imposed extremely high import duty,” said Martua.

RR ARIYANI