October 11, 2006	Wednesday	Ramazan 17, 1427

TOKYO, Oct 10: Japan, seeking to protect its steel industry, said on Tuesday that it would appeal a World Trade Organisation finding that certain US anti-dumping measures were not in breach of its rules.

“We will appeal to the WTO's Appellate Body on Wednesday, protesting against its report that zeroing, a US anti-dumping measure, is not against the WTO rules,” said trade ministry official Mitsuru Nomura.

Japan challenged the so-called “zeroing” methodology used by the United States in its investigations into dumping -- the selling of items abroad at lower prices than in the domestic market.

But a WTO panel in September largely found in favour of the United States.

“Over the past five years the Japanese steel industry has been badly hurt by zeroing, particularly in exports of bearings,” said the Japanese official.

Critics say the “zeroing” methodology allows officials to ignore cases of foreign firms charging prices over fair value, rather than offsetting them against instances of undercharging.—APP