Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain grain oriented electrical sheets and strips (flat-rolled products) of a width not exceeding 500 mm originating in Poland and Russia

(2002/C 111/05)

The Commission has received a complaint pursuant to Article 5 of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96(1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2238/2000(2) ("the Basic Regulation"), alleging that imports of certain grain oriented electrical sheets and strips, originating in Poland and Russia ("countries concerned"), are being dumped and are thereby causing material injury to the Community industry.

1. Complaint

The complaint was lodged on 26 March 2002 by the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (Eurofer) (the complainant) on behalf of producers representing 100 % of the Community production of certain grain oriented electrical sheets and strips.

2. Product

The product allegedly being dumped is grain oriented sheets and strips of silicon-electrical steel with a width not exceeding 500 mm originating in Poland and Russia ("the product concerned"), currently classifiable within CN code 7226 11 90. This CN code is only given for information.

3. Allegation of dumping

The allegation of dumping in respect of Poland is based on a comparison of normal value established on the basis of domestic prices, with the export prices of the product concerned to the Community.

In view of provisions of Article 2(7) of the Basic Regulation, the complainant established normal value for Russia on the basis of the price in a market economy country, which is mentioned in paragraph 5.1(c) of this notice. The allegation of dumping is based on a comparison of normal value, as set out in the preceding sentence, with the export prices of the product concerned when sold for export to the Community.

On this basis, the dumping margins calculated are significant.

4. Allegation of injury

The complainant has provided evidence that imports of the product concerned from Poland and Russia have increased overall in absolute terms and in terms of market share.

It is alleged that the volumes and the prices of the imported product concerned have, among other consequences, had a negative impact on the market share held, the quantities sold and the level of prices charged by the Community industry, resulting in substantial adverse effects on the overall performance, the financial situation and the employment situation of the Community industry.

5. Procedure

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that the complaint has been lodged by or on behalf of the Community industry and that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission hereby initiates an investigation pursuant to Article 5 of the Basic Regulation.

5.1. Procedure for the determination of dumping and injury

The investigation will determine whether the product concerned originating in Poland and Russia is being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury.

(a) Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the Community industry and to any association of producers in the Community, to the exporters/producers in Poland and Russia, to any association of exporters/producers, to the importers, to any association of importers named in the complaint, and to the authorities of the exporting countries concerned.

In any event, all parties should contact the Commission forthwith by fax, but not later than the time limit set out in paragraph 6(a)(i) of this notice, in order to find out whether they are listed in the complaint and, if necessary, request a questionnaire, given that the time limit set in paragraph 6(a)(ii) of this notice applies to all such interested parties.

(b) Collection of information and holding of hearings

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information other than questionnaire replies and to provide supporting evidence. This information and supporting evidence has to reach the Commission within the time limit set in paragraph 6(a)(ii) 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(a)(iii) of this notice.

(c) Selection of the market economy country

In accordance with Article 2(7)(a) of the Basic Regulation, it is envisaged to choose Brazil as an appropriate market-economy country for the purpose of establishing normal value in respect of Russia. Interested parties are hereby invited to comment on the appropriateness of this choice within the specific time limit set in paragraph 6(b) of this notice.

(d) Market economy status

For those exporters/producers in Russia which claim and provide sufficient evidence that they operate under market economy conditions, i.e. that they meet the criteria laid down in Article 2(7)(c) of the Basic Regulation, normal value will be determined in accordance with Article 2(7)(b) of the Basic Regulation. Exporters/producers intending to submit duly substantiated claims must do so within the specific time limit set in paragraph 6(c) of this notice. The Commission will send claim forms to all exporters/producers in Russia and to any association of exporters/producers named in the complaint, as well as to the authorities of Russia.

5.2. Procedure for assessment of Community interest

In accordance with Article 21 of the Basic Regulation and in the event that the allegations of dumping and injury caused thereby are substantiated, a decision will be reached as to whether the adoption of anti-dumping measures would not be against the Community interest. For this reason the Community industry, importers, their representative associations, representative users and representative consumer organisations, provided that they prove that there is an objective link between their activity and the product concerned, may, within the general time limits set in paragraph 6(a)(ii) of this notice, make themselves known and provide the Commission with information. The parties which have acted in conformity with the preceding sentence may request a hearing, setting out the particular reasons why they should be heard within the time limit set in paragraph 6(a)(iii) of this notice. It should be noted that any information submitted pursuant to Article 21 will only be taken into account if supported by factual evidence at the time of submission.

6. Time limits

(a) General time limits

(i) For parties to request a questionnaire or claim form

All interested parties should request a questionnaire as soon as possible, but not later than 15 days after the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

(ii) 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 Communities, 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.

(iii) Hearings

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

(b) Specific time limit for the selection of the market-economy country

Parties to the investigation may wish to comment on the appropriateness of Brazil which, as mentioned in paragraph 5.1(c) of this notice, is envisaged as a market-economy country for the purpose of establishing normal value in respect of Russia. These comments must reach the Commission within 10 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

(c) Specific time limit for submission of claims for market economy status

Duly substantiated claims for market economy status, as mentioned in paragraph 5(1)(d) of this notice, must reach the Commission within 21 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

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.

Commission address for correspondence: European Commission Office: TERV - 0/13 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 does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, provisional or final findings, affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with Article 18 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.

9. Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, according to Article 6(9) of the Basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities. According to Article 7(1) of the Basic Regulation, provisional measures may be imposed no later than 9 months from the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

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

(2) OJ L 257, 11.10.2000, p. 2.