Underlining the way in which rules of the European Union are routinely drawn up so inflexibly as to allow no leeway as conditions change, the European Commission is being forced into the absurdity of reintroducing minimum prices for dynamic memory chips from Japan and South Korea with immediate effect. The duties, ludicrous now that world memory prices have slumped, threaten to put local electronics manufacturers at an enormous disadvantage. The anti-dumping duties were were suspended 21 months ago due to the rise in prices, but the rules say they have to be reintroduced from yesterday. The duties will be imposed gradually with the first real impact likely on April 1.
