Commission Regulation (EC) No 275/2004

of 17 February 2004

initiating an investigation concerning the possible circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1796/1999 on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China, by imports of steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco, whether declared as originating in Morocco or not and making such imports subject to registration

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community(1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1972/2002(2) (the basic Regulation) and in particular Article 13(3), Article 14(3) and Article 14(5) thereof,

After having consulted the Advisory Committee,

Whereas:

A. REQUEST

(1) The Commission has received a request pursuant to Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96, "the basic Regulation", to investigate the possible circumvention of the anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China.

(2) The request was lodged on 5 January 2004 by EWRIS, liaison committee of EU wire rope industries, on behalf of 19 Community producers.

B. PRODUCT

(3) The product concerned by possible circumvention is steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China, normally declared under CN codes ex 7312 10 82, ex 7312 10 84, ex 7312 10 86, ex 7312 10 88 and ex 7312 10 99 (the product concerned). These codes are given for information only.

(4) The product under investigation is steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco (the product under investigation) normally declared under the same codes as the product concerned.

C. EXISTING MEASURES

(5) The measures currently in force and possibly being circumvented are anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1796/1999(3) as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1674/2003(4).

D. GROUNDS

(6) The request contains sufficient prima facie evidence that the anti-dumping measures in force on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China are being circumvented by means of the transhipment via Morocco of steel ropes and cables.

(7) The evidence submitted is as follows:

A significant change in the pattern of trade involving exports from the People's Republic of China and Morocco to the Community has taken place following the imposition of measures on the product concerned, and there is insufficient due cause or justification other than the imposition of the duty for such a change.

This change in the pattern of trade appears to stem from the transhipment of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China via Morocco.

Furthermore, the request contains sufficient evidence that the remedial effects of the existing anti-dumping measures on the product concerned are being undermined both in terms of quantity and price. Significant volumes of imports of steel ropes and cables from Morocco appear to have replaced imports from the People's Republic of China of the product concerned. In addition, there is sufficient evidence that this increase in imports is made at prices well below the non-injurious price established in the investigation that led to the existing measures.

Finally, the request contains sufficient evidence that the prices of steel ropes and cables are dumped in relation to the normal value previously established for the product concerned.

E. PROCEDURE

(8) In the light of the above, the Commission has concluded that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an investigation pursuant to Article 13 of the basic Regulation and to make imports of steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco, whether declared as originating in Morocco or not, subject to registration, in accordance with Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation.

(a) Questionnaires

(9) In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the exporters/producers and to the associations of exporters/producers in Morocco, the exporters/producers and to the associations of exporters/producers in the People's Republic of China, to the importers and to the associations of importers in the Community which cooperated in the investigation that led to the existing measures or which are listed in the request and to the authorities of the People's Republic of China and Morocco. Information, as appropriate, may also be sought from the Community industry.

(10) In any event, all interested parties should contact the Commission forthwith, but not later than the time limit set in Article 3 of this Regulation in order to find out whether they are listed in the request and, if necessary, to request a questionnaire within the time limit set in Article 3(1) of this Regulation, given that the time limit set in Article 3(2) of this Regulation applies to all interested parties.

(11) The authorities of the People's Republic of China and Morocco will be notified of the initiation of the investigation and provided with a copy of the request.

(b) Collection of information and holding of hearings

(12) All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known in writing and to provide supporting evidence. Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request in writing and show that there are particular reasons why they should be heard.

(c) Exemption of registration of imports or measures

(13) In accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation may be exempted from registration or measures if the importation does not constitute circumvention.

(14) The possible circumvention takes place outside the Community. Article 13 of the basic Regulation is aiming at countering circumvention practices without affecting operators which can prove that they are not involved in such practices, but it does not contain a specific provision providing for the treatment of producers in the countries concerned which could establish that they are not involved in circumvention practices. Therefore, it appears necessary to introduce a possibility for producers concerned to request an exemption from the registration of imports of their exported products or from measures on these imports.

(15) Producers wishing to obtain an exemption should apply for it and submit any requested questionnaire reply within the appropriate time limits, in order for it to be established that they are not circumventing the anti-dumping duties within the meaning of Article 13(1) of the basic Regulation. Importers could still benefit from exemption from registration or measures to the extent that their imports are from producers which are granted such an exemption, and in accordance with Article 13(4) of the basic Regulation.

F. REGISTRATION

(16) Pursuant to Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation, imports of the product under investigation should be made subject to registration in order to ensure that, should the investigation result in findings of circumvention, anti-dumping duties of an appropriate amount can be levied retroactively from the date of registration of steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco.

G. TIME LIMITS

(17) In the interest of sound administration, time limits should be stated within which:

- interested parties may make themselves known to the Commission, present their views in writing and submit questionnaire replies or any other information to be taken into account during the investigation,

- interested parties may make a written request to be heard by the Commission.

(18) Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the time limits mentioned in Article 3 of this Regulation.

H. NON-COOPERATION

(19) In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or otherwise does not provide necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

(20) Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, of facts available. If an interested party does not cooperate, or cooperates only partially, and use of the best facts available is made, the result may be less favourable than if it had cooperated,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

An investigation is hereby initiated pursuant to Article 13(3) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96, in order to determine if imports into the Community of steel ropes and cables consigned from Morocco, whether originating in Morocco or not, and falling within CN codes ex 7312 10 82, ex 7312 10 84, ex 7312 10 86, ex 7312 10 88 and ex 7312 10 99 (TARIC codes 7312 10 82 12, 7312 10 84 12, 7312 10 86 12, 7312 10 88 12, 7312 10 99 12 ), are circumventing the measures imposed by Regulation (EC) No 1796/1999 on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the People's Republic of China.

Article 2

The Customs authorities are hereby directed, pursuant to Article 13(3) and Article 14(5) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96, to take the appropriate steps to register the imports into the Community identified in Article 1 of this Regulation.

Registration shall expire nine months following the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

The Commission, by Regulation, may direct Customs authorities to cease registration in respect of imports into the Community of products manufactured by producers having applied for an exemption of registration and having been found not to be circumventing the anti-dumping duties.

Article 3

1. Questionnaires should be requested from the Commission within 15 days from publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union.

2. Interested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known by contacting the Commission, present their views in writing and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 40 days from the date of the publication of this Regulation in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified.

3. Interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same 40-day time limit.

4. Any information relating to the matter, any request for a hearing or for a questionnaire as well as any request for authorisation of certificates of non-circumvention must be made in writing (not in electronic format, unless otherwise specified), must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone, fax and/or telex numbers of the interested party. All written submissions, including the information requested in this Regulation, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as "Limited"(5) and, in accordance with Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, shall be accompanied by a non-confidential version, which will be labelled "For inspection by interested parties" and should be sent to the following address: European Commission Directorate General for Trade

Directorate B

J-79 5/16

B - 1049 Brussels Fax (32-2) 295 65 05 Telex COMEU B 21877

Article 4

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 17 February 2004.

For the Commission

Pascal Lamy

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 305, 7.11.2002, p. 1.

(3) OJ L 217, 17.8.1999, p. 1.

(4) OJ L 238, 25.9.2003, p. 1.

(5) This means that the document is for internal use only. It is protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement of implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).