Biases in Calculating Dumping Margins: The Case of Cyclical Products

A dumping investigation involves comparing export prices with a "normal value" loosely defined as the price in the exporter's domestic market observed in the course of normal trade. However, domestic sales with prices below production costs are excluded from the computation of a normal value. The paper illustrates how price cycles affect the magnitude of estimated dumping margins. The empirical analysis focuses on Canadian hog exports to the United States and U.S. potato exports to Canada. The estimated period and amplitude of each price cycles result in average dumping margins for Canadian hogs and U.S. potato exports of 11.5% and 5.9%, respectively. Biases in dumping margins depend on the nature of the cycle, the period of investigation, and the average production cost estimate.