EU to slap anti-dumping duties on S. Korean refrigerators: KITA

The European Commission has decided to slap antidumping duties on South Korean refrigerator producers over alleged price cutting, the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said Tuesday.

The local association, which monitors the latest overseas trade developments, said the European body has made a final decision to levy punitive duties on two South Korean companies.

The commission has recommended an antidumping duty of 12.2 percent against so-called side-by-side refrigerators made by LG Electronics, while 3.4 percent duties are to be levied on products by Daewoo Electronics Corp. Samsung Electronics has been cleared of price-cutting allegations.

The relatively large refrigerators have more than 400 liters in capacity and at least two doors in a cabinet-like side-by-side arrangement.

"The level of duties is lower than the provisional ruling in March that reached 14.3 percent for LG and included Samsung," said a KITA official.

He said the European Union (EU) board makes the final decision on the levying of duties, but as a rule, it almost always accepts recommendations by the commission. The EU is expected to officially confirm the move on Sept. 1. The KITA expert said the latest action is expected to affect sales of South Korean refrigerators in Europe.

According to a survey by Eurostat, the statistical arm of the commission, South Korea exported 290 million euros worth of side-by-side refrigerators to European countries in 2005, accounting for about 65 percent of the local market.

Among European countries, Britain, France and Germany were the largest markets for South Korean refrigerators.

Seoul, Aug. 15 (Yonhap News)