South African growers have been struggling to get good prices for their potatoes due to dumping from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Following complaints by the potato industry, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) initiated an investigation to determine claims of dumping of frozen potato chips, classified under HS Code HS 2004.10.21 and HS 2004.10.29, imported or originating from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
South Africa's imports of frozen potato chips from the three countries increased by 88.6% between 2020 and 2021, to reach 29,635 tons. Moreover, in the first five months of 2022, the imports from the three countries grew by 114% compared to the corresponding period in 2021.
This sharp rise in imports can be attributed to the expiration of anti-dumping tariffs in the first quarter of 2021.
Source: foodformzansi.co.za