South Korean Duties on Japanese Valves Violate Rules, WTO Finds

The World Trade Organization on Sept. 10 ruled for a second time that South Korea’s anti-dumping duties on Japanese valves violate international trade rules, according to a decision published on the WTO website.

The WTO’s appellate body said Sept. 10 that Seoul must modify its duties on the pneumatic transmission valves, which are used in power tools and diesel engines.

That could increase competition for South Korean manufacturers like TPC Mechatronics Corp. and KCC Co., Ltd. and benefit Japanese producers—including SMC Corp., CKD Corp., and Toyooki Kogyo Co.—which have been subject to anti-dumping duties ranging from 11.6% ...