FOLLOW-UP PAPER ON SPECIAL CONSIDERATION AND TREATMENT OF

SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN ANTI-DUMPING AND

COUNTERVAILING PROCEEDINGS

Communication from China

The following communication, dated 2 August 2017, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of China.

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1  BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

The Proposal on Trade Remedies (TN/RL/GEN/185) submitted by China on 21 April 2017 was circulated among the Members on 24 April, in which China highlighted initiatives and proposals, inter alia, on special consideration and treatment of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in anti-dumping and countervailing proceedings.

It is well-accepted that SMEs with their vigor and competitiveness are among the powerhouses for creating job opportunities and promoting technology innovation as well as economic development. Acknowledging SMEs' increasingly important role in international trade in recent years, facilitating SMEs' integration into international trade has become a common interest among Members.^[1] In light of the global and local economic difficulties, it is the Members' shared responsibility to help create a free trading environment for the SMEs and facilitate their participation in international trade and cooperation.

Considering the multifarious difficulties and heavy burden confronted by SMEs in responding to trade remedy proceedings due to their limited capacities and lack of experience, China further clarifies its suggestions contained in the proposal TN/RL/GEN/185 and hereby submits this proposal on special consideration and treatment of SMEs in AD and CVD proceedings. This paper is thus meant to serve as the basis for further discussion.

In general, this paper aims at encouraging the investigating authorities to make positive efforts to identify small and medium-sized enterprises when appropriate, take due account of the unique or disproportionate difficulties confronted by them in responding to proceedings, and provide them with any practicable assistance or help to reduce their burden thereof. Although it focuses on the SMEs' participation as respondents, any proposal from the Membership with respect to SMEs' participation as petitioners is welcome as basis for subsequent discussions on this topic.