Notice of initiation of an accelerated review of Council Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of certain polyethylene terephtalate originating in Thailand

(2003/C 170/02)

The Commission has received an application for an accelerated review pursuant to Article 20 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97(1) ("the basic Regulation"), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1973/2002(2), with regard to imports of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) in Thailand, subject to a definitive countervailing duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000(3).

1. Request for review

The application was lodged by Indo Pet (Thailand) Limited ("the applicant"), an exporting producer in Thailand.

2. Product

The product under review is polyethylene terephtalate (PET) with a coefficient of viscosity of 78 ml/g or higher, according to DIN (Deutsche Industrienorm) 53728 originating in Thailand ("the product concerned"), currently classifiable within CN code 3907 60 20. This CN code is given for information only.

3. Existing measures

The measure currently in force is a definitive countervailing duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 2603/2000, under which imports into the Community of certain polyethylene terephtalate in Thailand, including those produced by the applicant, are subject to a definitive countervailing duty of EUR 49,1 per tonne.

4. Grounds for the review

The applicant alleges that it was not individually investigated during the period of investigation on which the countervailing measure was based, i.e. the period from 1 October 1998 to 30 September 1999 ("the original investigation period") for reasons other than the refusal to cooperate.

On the basis of the above, it has requested that an individual duty rate be established for it.

5. Procedure

Community producers known to be concerned have been informed of the above application and been given an opportunity to comment. No comments have been received.

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an accelerated review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 20 of the basic Regulation.

(a) Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send a questionnaire to the applicant.

(b) Collection of information and holding of hearings

Interested parties, provided they can show that they are likely to be affected by the results of the review, are hereby invited to present their views in writing, and submit the replies to the questionnaire mentioned in paragraph 5(a) of this notice or any other information to be taken into account during the review. This information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within the time limit set in paragraph 6(a) of this notice.

Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request showing that there are particular reasons why they should be heard. This request must be made within the time limit set in paragraph 6(b) of this notice.

6. Time limits

(a) For parties to make themselves known, to submit questionnaire replies and any other information

All 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 and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 40 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. 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 aforementioned period.

(b) Hearings

All interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same 40 day time limit.

7. Written submissions, questionnaire replies and correspondence

All submissions and requests made by interested parties must be made in writing (not in electronic format, unless otherwise specified), and must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax, and/or telex numbers of the interested party. All written submissions, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as "Limited"(4) 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".

Commission address for correspondence: European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Directorate B

Office: J-79 - 05/16 B - 1049 Brussels Fax (32-2) 295 65 05 Telex COMEU B 21877

8. Non-cooperation

In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or otherwise does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 28 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of the facts available.

(1) OJ L 288, 21.10.1997, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 305, 7.11.2002, p. 4.

(3) OJ L 301, 30.11.2000, p. 1.

(4) 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 Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).