Caribbean Cement files dumping claim

Caribbean Cement Company has complained to the Antidumping & Subsidies Commission about what it calls the unfair trading of cement in Jamaica.



Carib Cement filed the claim yesterday.



Carib Cement said based on available evidence the cement sold to local importers by the American company Vulcan Materials Company is being dumped in Jamaica.



The Cement Company has cited a World Trade Organisation report that Vulcan is selling its cement to Jamaica at rates below fair market prices.



At the same time, Carib Cement said the low price offered by Vulcan is not reflected in the rate of the imported cement on the local market.



According to Carib Cement there is a 71.5 per cent difference in the sale price of the Vulcan cement and the retail cost on the local market.



The cement company said it has been the practice of local importers to set their prices similar to that of Carib Cement.



According to Carib Cement the matter involving Vulcan Materials Company is an example of an American company deliberately taking market share and sales away from the Jamaican cement manufacturer.



It said this could lead to the detriment of local production, workers and the Jamaican economy.



Last week, Carib Cement also raised concern about the Jamaican government’s application to the Council for Trade and Economic Development for a further suspension of the tariff on imported cement.



A further suspension of the tariff means it would cost less for people to import cement.



The Government has asked for the extension because it’s not convinced that Carib Cement can meet the local demand for cement.



However Carib Cement’s general manager Anthony Haynes has rejected that assertion.



He said the company is in an even better position now since the completion of a project to expand the capacity at its Rockfort Plant in Kingston.



Carib Cement has spent US$177 million to modernise its plant.