Potato Starch: China reviews import tariffs EU Potato Starch

China announced today to start a mid-term review of the anti-dumping duties on imports of potato starch from the European Union, a move which may lead to the increase of duties imposed in 2007.

It followed the EU's decision on Saturday to begin an anti-subsidy investigation into China's exports of coated paper to the EU.

The Ministry of Commerce said on its Website the probe will examine the prices of potato starch from the EU to assess the new situations in the market.

In February 2007, China started to impose anti-dumping tariffs ranging from 17 percent to 35 percent on imports of EU potato starch, which is widely used in food processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles and animal feed.

On March 8 this year, the ministry received an application from the China Starch Industry Association's Potato Starch Specialty Council for a review of the duties, because the dumping rate of EU producers "has surpassed the rate of the tariffs,"the ministry said.

The council demanded to renew the rate of the duties, in a bid to make it reflect the new situation in the industry.

Companies that plan to appeal in this case should register with the ministry in 20 days from yesterday, and provide related materials. The registration form can be loaded at http://gpj.mofcom.gov.cn.

The ministry will conclude the assessment in one year, through surveys, hearings and on-the-spot-investigations.