Lighters made in China and then transported to Viet Nam to evade anti-dumping duties will be subject to a tax rate of 0.065 euros (VND1,800) per unit. File Photo

HA NOI — The European Commission (EC) has officially announced anti-dumping duties on disposable gas-fuelled pocket lighters imported from Viet Nam.

Under the EC's latest decision, lighters made in China and then transported to Viet Nam to evade anti-dumping duties will be subject to a tax rate of 0.065 euros (VND1,800) per unit.

Products that were exported to the European market from June 27 to December 13, 2012 are also included in the EC's anti-dumping list.

The EC had launched earlier investigations into Vietnamese and Chinese gas lighter producers and exporters. These investigations, and customs data, revealed a sharp increase in gas lighters imported from Viet Nam into the European market since 1997.

In 2011 they made up 84 per cent of all European lighter imports.

During the reviewed period, Viet Nam also significantly increased its gas lighter imports from China, from 3 per cent in 1999 to 26 per cent in 2010.

On June 26, 2012, the EC initiated a probe on Chinese lighters attempting to evade anti-dumping duties via re-export to Viet Nam. The investigations lasted until April 26 this year.

Of the 15 Vietnamese businesses included in the EC investigation's inquiry list, only seven provided feedback. They were mostly based in HCM City, central Nghe An, southern Binh Duong and Tay Ninh provinces. — VNS