Seychelles approves new anti-dumping legislation to protect infant industries
Seychelles has granted approval for a gradual implementation of new trade laws to protect local industries against illegal dumping and other related trade activities.
The new trade remedies will empower Seychelles to fully utilize available measures to safeguard national food security, address threats to emerging industries, and address other paramount national interests, local media Seychelles News Agency reported.
At a press briefing on November 8 following the approval, Vice President Ahmed Afif said, "We have a policy that protects our local industry but the way to do it properly and since we became a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2015, we protected certain industries but the way to protect them even more is through legislation."
Mr Afif added that the country’s new approach will be in accordance with the island nation's international trade commitments.
“We can, for example, stop certain products being brought to Seychelles at a low price, which is called dumping, simply to kill the local market that produces the same thing and then raise their prices…If we don't have legislation, it is difficult to stop certain products from coming in because most things that come to Seychelles do not need permits. We cannot just refuse entry, there must be a basis, and legislation will allow the government to stop a company or products coming in because it is against our legislation," Mr Afif is quoted.
In 2015, Seychelles became the 161st member of the World Trade Organisation after 20 years of negotiating its terms with the organisation.
