Micron Technology Inc was handed a major setback last week in its ongoing anti-dumping battle with Taiwanese chipmakers. A US- based trade panel ruled Friday that imports from Taiwan are not harming domestic producers of DRAMs. The US International Trade Commission, in a 3-1 vote, struck down a case filed by Micron which sought tariffs as high as 69% on the Taiwanese imports.

Friday’s ruling came as the latest chapter in the ongoing anti- dumping case – initiated by Micron in October 1998 – which has already seen the Taiwanese government retaliate by imposing a lofty 67% tariff to protect local DRAM manufacturers from US imports. Micron’s case, filed last year with the US International Trade Commission, accused nine Taiwan DRAM manufacturers and four chip design firms of exporting their products to the US at prices below fair market value or production costs.