Safeguards for Australian workers the right move

News | 28 August 2025

Manufacturing Australia (MA) welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement that it will move responsibility for safeguards inquiries from the Productivity Commission to the Anti-Dumping Commission.

Safeguards are special trade powers, allowed under World Trade Organisation rules, that enable countries to respond to sudden surges in imports that put domestic industries and jobs at risk.

MA CEO, Ben Eade, said the Anti-Dumping Commission is best placed to undertake safeguards inquiries because it has the right expertise and already undertakes the careful investigations required to monitor and respond to unfair trade practices.

“This is not a trivial change. It is an important, overdue and commonsense move that brings Australia into line with other jurisdictions and gives the Anti-Dumping Commission more of the tools it needs to respond to unfair or volatile trade,” Mr Eade said.

“Australia has long been an outlier for not entrusting its Anti-Dumping Commission with these important powers. It makes sense to do so now in the context of growing turbulence in global trade.”

“Ensuring Australia has an effective trade remedies framework with the right rules, the right expertise and the right funding, is essential to navigating a challenging period in global trade policy.”

Contact: Ben Eade, 02 6198 3285