MOFCOM issued announcement No.12 and No.13 of 2018 on February 4, deciding to launch the anti-dumping and countervailing investigation against the grain sorghum imported from the US. Director-General of Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau Wang Hejun accepted an interview and answered questions on it.

I. Why did the MOFCOM launch the anti-dumping and countervailing investigation against the grain sorghum imported from the US?

This is an ordinary trade remedy investgation case. The evidence has shown that the US government provided subsidy for its grain sorghum. Since 2013, the US exports of grain sorghum to China have soared but the price has dropped continuously, which has brought damages to China’s grain sorghum industry. Therefore, MOFCOM decided to launch the investigation in accordance with the Chinese laws and the WTO rules.

II. Is there any special reason behind the autonomous investigation?
　　
According to the WTO rules, there are two cases to launch the anti-dumping and countervailing investigation: 1.the relevant industry applies for the investigation; 2.the investigation is launched by investigation authority. China’s law has similar provisions, so does the law of the other WTO members. Since China’s planters of grain sorghum are sparsely distributed, the number is numerous and it’s hard for the industry to get all necessary documents, the Chinese authority decided to launch the investigation autonomously in line with their evidence at hand. We will safeguard the legitimate rights of all sides in line with China’s laws and regulations, and the WTO rules.
　　
It’s noting that as the two largest economies, the US and China are each other’s mutual trading partner. Win-win cooperation is the nature of US-China trade and economic relations and the steady and sound ties are in the interest of both countries and their people. The Chinese side would like to join efforts with the US to deal with the trade frictions through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.