Japan's Brother says it and other manufacturers probed by China (updated)
16/11/2018 05:13
(Recasts with comment from Brother Industries)
TOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Commerce is
investigating alleged dumping of machine tools by Japanese
manufacturers including industrial robot maker Fanuc Corp
6954.T and machinery maker Brother Industries Ltd 6448.T ,
the latter said on Friday.
The Nikkei Asian Review earlier reported that the ministry
was investigating the two firms along with other Japanese
companies Jtekt Corp 6473.T , Okuma Corp 6103.T and Yamazaki
Mazak, as well as Taiwanese machine tool makers and Chinese
trading houses.
A Brother Industries spokesman said it was cooperating with
the investigation. He said the Japanese targets of the probe had
been narrowed down this month to three companies including
itself and Fanuc.
"Our understanding is that we have not engaged in dumping,"
he said, adding that the inquiry is due to end by October 2019.
The move comes as Chinese and U.S. trade officials set
tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other's
goods, with U.S. President Donald Trump considering more tariffs
unless their trade dispute is resolved.
China has been trying to forge closer ties with Japan, last
month signing a currency swap agreement and agreeing to work
towards denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The probe began following a request from Beijing Jingdiao
Group and two other Chinese machine tool makers that make
products for smartphone parts, the Nikkei said, adding that
Fanuc denied any wrongdoing. (https://s.nikkei.com/2Fpov7Q)
Tariffs or other measures will be imposed should the
authorities conclude that the companies engaged in dumping, the
Nikkei reported.
The ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters' faxed
request for comment. Beijing Jingdiao and Yamazaki Mazak were
not available for comment. Okuma said it was not being
investigated. Jtekt said it did not export to China the products
in question.
(Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru, Ritsuko Ando in
Tokyo; Editing by Sam Holmes)
((Ambar.Warrick@thomsonreuters.com; +91-80-6749-6625; Reuters
Messaging: ambar.warrick.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))