Notice concerning the anti-dumping and countervailing measures applicable to imports of certain steel products originating in Bulgaria, South Africa, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, India, Thailand, Taiwan, the People's Republic of China, the Czech Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Slovakia

(2002/C 308/07)

1. Existing anti-dumping and countervailing measures

The following steel products are presently subject to anti-dumping and/or countervailing duties pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96(1), as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1972/2002(2), Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97(3), Commission Decision No 2277/96/ECSC(4), as last amended by Commission Decision No 435/2001/ECSC(5) and Commission Decision No 1889/98/ECSC(6):

- certain flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, not clad, plated or coated, in coils, not further worked than hot-rolled (currently classifiable under CN codes 7208 10 00, 7208 25 00, 7208 26 00, 7208 27 00, 7208 36 00, 7208 37 10, 7208 37 90, 7208 38 10, 7208 38 90, 7208 39 10, 7208 39 90 ), originating in Bulgaria, South Africa, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia(7) and India(8); and

- certain tube and pipe fittings (other than cast fittings, flanges and threaded fittings), of iron or steel (not including stainless steel), with a greatest external diameter not exceeding 609,6 mm, of a kind used for butt-welding or other purposes, currently classifiable under CN codes ex 7307 93 11 (Taric code 7307 93 11 91 ), ex 7307 93 19 (Taric code 7307 93 19 91 ), ex 7307 99 30 (Taric code 7307 99 30 92 ) and ex 7307 99 90 (Taric code 7307 99 90 92 ) originating in Thailand, the People's Republic of China and Taiwan(9), and the Czech Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Slovakia(10), (hereinafter referred to as "the products concerned").

2. Safeguard measures - assessment of combination of measures

By Regulation (EC) No 1694/2002 of 27 September 2002(11), the European Commission imposed definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products, including the abovementioned products, in the form of additional duties payable on imports in excess of the relevant tariff quotas (hereinafter the additional duty). The Commission indicated, in recital (702) of the aforementioned Regulation, that the combined effect of the safeguard measures and anti-dumping and/or countervailing measures could lead to the establishment of a level of protection higher than that which is necessary, noted the notice(12) published on 30 August 2002 (following the imposition of provisional safeguard measures on certain steel products) and stated that it would examine the position in relation to the products concerned expeditiously.

The Commission now intends to consider whether it is necessary to propose amendments to the level of the existing anti-dumping or countervailing duties relating to the products concerned, pursuant to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and, in particular, Article 133 thereof, having regard to Regulation (EC) No 384/96 and Regulation (EC) No 2026/97. In this respect, the Commission considers it appropriate to invite all interested parties, to make known their views.

3. Procedure and time limits

In order to have all interested parties views on the above, the Commission will contact the Community industry, any association of producers in the Community, the exporters/producers in the countries concerned, any association of exporters/producers in the countries concerned, the importers, and any association of importers which cooperated in the investigation leading to the anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures above mentioned, and the relevant authorities of the countries concerned.

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information and provide supporting evidence within 40 days of the publication of this Notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Views, information and evidence already submitted by parties in response to the notice published on 30 August 2002 will also be taken into account by the Commission.

4. Written submissions and correspondence

All relevant information is to be communicated to the Commission. 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.

The Commission address for correspondence is: 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.

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

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

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

(4) OJ L 308, 29.11.1996, p. 11. Pursuant to Article 1(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 963/2002, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/2002 (OJ L 192, 20.7.2002), measures adopted under Decision No 2277/96/ECSC remain in force and are governed by Regulation (EC) No 384/96.

(5) OJ L 63, 3.3.2001, p. 14.

(6) OJ L 245, 4.9.1998, p. 3. Pursuant to Article 2(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 963/2002, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1310/2002 (OJ L 192, 20.7.2002), measures adopted under Decision No 1889/98/ECSC remain in force and are governed by Regulation (EC) No 2026/97.

(7) Commission Decision No 283/2000/ECSC of 4 February 2000 (OJ L 31, 5.2.2000, p. 15), last amended by Decision No 841/2002/ECSC (OJ L 134, 22.5.2002, p. 11).

(8) Commission Decision No 283/2000/ECSC of 4 February 2000 (OJ L 31, 5.2.2000, p. 15), last amended by Decision No 1043/2002/ECSC (OJ L 157, 15.6.2002, p. 45), and Commission Decision No 284/2000/ECSC of 4 February 2000 (OJ L 31, 5.2.2000, p. 44), last amended by Decision No 1043/2002/ECSC (OJ L 157, 15.6.2002, p. 45).

(9) Council Regulation (EC) No 584/96 (OJ L 84, 3.4.1996, p. 1), extended by Regulation (EC) No 763/2000 (OJ L 94, 14.4.2000, p. 1) as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2314/2000 (OJ L 267, 20.10.2000, p. 15) and amended by Regulation (EC) No 1592/2000 (OJ L 182, 21.7.2000, p. 1).

(10) Council Regulation (EC) No 1514/2002 (OJ L 228, 24.8.2002, p. 1).

(11) OJ L 261, 28.9.2002, p. 1.

(12) OJ C 206, 30.8.2002, p. 7.