Technical training on anti-dumping commenced with the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) yesterday. The training for the staff of the Trade Facilitation and Efficiency Directorate of the MoET is being delivered by Dr. Gustav Brink, Key Expert of the trade law component of the EU Trade Enhancement Programme (TEP).

Anti-dumping actions are taken against unfair international practices that disrupt trade through unsustainably low prices. Dumping refers to import prices to Syria that are lower than the prices in the exporting countries. These low prices, and any other form of unfair trade, can seriously disrupt the Syrian market.

According to Mr Ramzi Asawda, Director of Facilitation and Efficiency of Trade at the MoET “this training is very important to provide the staff of the Directorate with the necessary skills to prepare anti-dumping actions and to apply law No 42 of 2006 to protect our national industries’’.

Ongoing training in trade remedies will take place on a weekly basis at the MoET and TEP short term experts will be used over the next three years for further intensive technical training, which will extend also to the Syrian Customs Administration.

This training programme will empower the Trade Facilitation and Efficiency Directorate of the MoET to effectively undertake investigations to determine whether unfair trade practice is taking place, and if necessary, to recommend additional duties on the imported products to protect Syrian industries.

TEP is a four year (2008-2012) 15 million Euro EU-funded programme established by the Government of Syria in partnership with the EU Delegation in Syria to improve Syria’s macro-economic situation through facilitating and increasing Syrian trade flows. The TEP is implemented through the Syrian Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC) and aims to support the Ministry of Economy and Trade and the Customs Administration to introduce reforms that will bring the Syrian trade-related regulatory framework and practices in line with best international standards.