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The Trade Levies Unit
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The Trade Levies Unit is responsible for enforcing the
Trade Levies Law of
1991.
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The law deals with three types of levies: anti-dumping,
equalization and protection.
Anti-dumping levies are intended to prevent dumping that could cause damage
to a
productive sector in Israel. Equalization levies are applied to imports,
which are
supported by a foreign government. Protection levies can have various
justifications
though in general they are meant to limit damage to a particular sector in
Israel
while taking into account the imported good's benefit to the local economy.
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The application of these levies is based on international
agreements within the
framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and is subject to the
conditions
and constraints set down in those agreements. It is also based on bilateral
agreements between Israel and various other countries.
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The bodies responsible for enforcement of the law include:
the Director of Trade
Levies in the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Advisory Committee to the
Minister
on anti-dumping and equalization levies and the Minister of Industry and
Trade. The
Commissioner investigates complaints and reports the results of his or her
investigation to the Advisory Committee. The Committee gives its
recommendation to
the Minister who then decides whether or not to impose a trade levy. The
Attorney
General has ruled that according to the Budget Principles Law of 1991,
anti-dumping
levies require the approval of the Minister of Finance who should base his or
her
decision on the effects on the economy as a whole.
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According to the law, the Director of Trade Levies deals
with complaints. Complaints
against importers and foreign producers are received from local producers
based
on goods being imported at dumping prices or subsidized by a foreign
government.
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The complaint must be well documented and include all the
information required in the
questionnaire. This includes information on the state of the local industry
and proof
of dumping or subsidization.
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