Japan, seeking to protect its steel industry, said Oct. 10 that it would appeal a World Trade Organization (WTO) finding that certain U.S. anti-dumping measures are not in breach of its rules. Japan challenged the so-called "zeroing" methodology used by the U.S. in its investigations into dumping -- the selling of items abroad at lower prices than in the domestic market.
But a WTO panel in September largely found in favor of the U.S.
"Over the past five years the Japanese steel industry has been badly hurt by zeroing, particularly in exports of bearings," said the Japanese official.
Critics say the "zeroing" methodology allows officials to ignore cases of foreign firms charging prices over fair value, rather than offsetting them against instances of undercharging.
Japanese steel exports to the U.S. market have often been a source of trade frictions between Tokyo and Washington, its closest political ally.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006
