During July - December 2006, 19 Members reported initiating a total of 103 new investigations, compared with 96 initiations in the corresponding period of 2005.

A total of 15 Members reported applying 66 new final anti-dumping measures during the July - December 2006 period, compared with 76 new measures reported for the period July - December 2005.

Twenty-seven of the 103 new initiations were opened by developed Members, and 17 of the 66 new final measures were applied by developed Members, during the second half of 2006. This compares with 23 new initiations opened and 26 new measures applied by developed Members during the second half of 2005.

The Member reporting the highest number of new initiations during July - December 2006 was the European Union, with 17, and the second-highest number of initiations was reported by India (12). These were followed by Argentina (10), Brazil (9), Malaysia (8) and China (7).

During the corresponding period of 2005, the Members reporting the highest numbers of new initiations were India (14), China (13), Argentina (11), the European Union (9), and Pakistan and the United States (8 each).

China remained the most frequent subject of the new investigations, with 36 initiations directed at its exports during July - December 2006, up from 33 during the corresponding period of 2005. Indonesia was the second most frequent subject, with seven initiations of new investigations directed at its exports, an increase from six during the second half of 2005.

Taipei, Japan and Korea were tied for third place, with six initiations each in respect of their exports, compared with four, three and six, respectively, during July - December 2005. Brazil was in fourth place, with five initiations directed at its exports, compared with one during the corresponding period of 2005. Singapore, the United States, India, Thailand, Argentina, the European Union and its Member States, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Australia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Macedonia, Philippines and Saudi Arabia were the subject of fewer than five initiations each during the second half of 2006.

The products that were the most frequent subject of the reported new investigations during July - December 2006 were in the chemicals sector (25 initiations), followed by pulp and paper (16 initiations) and base metals (16 initiations). Of the 25 reported initiations in respect of chemicals products, the European Union reported eight, China and India each reported seven, Turkey two, and Egypt one.

Concerning the application of new final anti-dumping measures, Turkey reported the largest number (10) for the second half of 2006, doubling the five new measures it reported for the corresponding period of 2005. China reported nine new measures for the second half of 2006, an increase of 50 per cent from the six new measures it reported for the second half of 2005. Following China were India (8), the European Union and Korea (7 each), and Egypt (5).

These figures represented declines from the corresponding period of 2005 for India and the European Communities, and increases for Korea and Egypt. South Africa, Argentina, Israel, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Taipei, Indonesia and Peru each reported applying fewer than five new measures during the second half of 2006.

Concerning the affected sectors, products in the textiles sector were the most frequent subject of new measures during July-December 2006, accounting for 14 of the 66 total new measures reported. Products in the plastics sector was in second place, with 13 new measures. Base metals and machinery sectors were tied for third place, with eight new measures each.