European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Advisory committees

For the rights of interested parties in trade proceedings, see Hearing officer

Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy advisory committees

The role of these two committees is to comment on the important stages in investigations into cases of dumping and subsidies. In particular, the Commission consults them on:

• whether or not to initiate proceedings (e.g. whether a claim of dumping or subsidies is valid, whether European industry is damaged and to what extent, and how far this is attributable to dumped/subsidised imports)
• whether or not to impose provisional or definitive measures (e.g. how to establish the dumping margin or the subsidy amount, whether the imposition of measures is against the Community interest)
• any amendments to existing measures.

Although the Committees' advice is not binding on the Commission, these consultations are a very important element in the decision-making process, as they allow the Commission to crosscheck its analysis with the member states. All aspects of the consultations are confidential.

The Advisory Committees consist of representatives of each member state, and are chaired by the Commission's representative. The Committees can be convened immediately at the request of any member country or the Commission, but in practice they meet regularly and the Commission seeks advice from the national representatives on any proposals it intends to submit to the College of Commissioners. The College then decides on the proposal and submits it to the Council if warranted.

Legal basis

For more information on the legislation on trade defence, see Legal basis

• Anti-Dumping Committee – Regulation (EC) No 1225/2009. Establishment: Article 15; rights and obligations of members: Article 19.
• Anti-Subsidy Committee – Regulation (EC) No 597/2009. Establishment: Article 25; rights and obligations of members: Article 29.