Brief
AMIE urges South Africa to drop anti‑dumping duties on frozen chicken
AMIE argues the duties raise retail chicken prices by over 16% and disproportionately hurt poorer consumers.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE) has submitted a request for the anti‑dumping duties on frozen bone‑in chicken from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to lapse, as South Africa’s trade authorities review whether to extend the measures for another five years.
What happened
The duties, first imposed in the 2015/16 season and renewed in 2021, are now under a sunset review. AMIE’s submission responds to an application by the South African Poultry Association (Sapa) that seeks to extend the duties and raise them substantially.
What the reports add
Bizcommunity cites research by the South African Reserve Bank showing that tariffs, anti‑dumping duties and safeguard measures lifted the retail price of frozen chicken by 16.2% between 2012 and 2021 compared with a duty‑free scenario. The same study estimated that the higher prices cut welfare for the poorest households by roughly 2.1% of their food expenditure. AMIE also disputes Sapa’s dumping‑margin calculations, noting that the German export price used was based on shipments to Ghana rather than the Southern African Customs Union, and that 88% of that volume falls under a tariff category excluded from the original investigation.
What was said
Kherina Narotam, a trade attorney at Commodity Trade Observer, told Bizcommunity that “the law presumes these duties expire. A sunset review is a fresh test of current evidence, not an automatic renewal.”
Paul Matthew, CEO of AMIE, said South Africa should not frame the debate as a choice between domestic production and imports, adding, “South Africa needs a strong, competitive and growing domestic poultry industry. It also needs responsible imports to supplement local production, strengthen food security and provide consumers with choice.” He warned that any extension must be justified by clear evidence of dumping and material injury.
How it came about
The anti‑dumping duties were introduced after investigations into alleged dumping of European poultry. Sapa’s recent application seeks higher margins – 425.64% for Germany, 32.48% for the Netherlands and 61.84% for the UK – and asks the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) to increase the duties accordingly. AMIE’s challenge focuses on the methodology of those calculations and the broader consumer impact.
Key facts
- AMIE has asked that anti‑dumping duties on frozen bone‑in chicken from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK expire. (bizcommunity.com)
- South African Reserve Bank research estimates the duties raised frozen chicken prices by 16.2% between 2012 and 2021. (bizcommunity.com)
- The duties were first imposed in 2015/16 and extended in 2021, now facing a sunset review. (bizcommunity.com)
- Sapa proposes new dumping margins of 425.64% (Germany), 32.48% (Netherlands) and 61.84% (UK). (bizcommunity.com)
- AMIE argues the German export price used by Sapa is based on shipments to Ghana, not the Southern African Customs Union. (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “AMIE calls for chicken import duties to expire”
