Notice of initiation of an investigation pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 concerning imports of cotton yarn originating in Syria
Date: 2001-07-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Syria, cotton, import policy, market protection, quantitative restriction, textile fibre

C 199/18

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

14.7.2001

Notice of initiation of an investigation pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 517/94 concerning
imports of cotton yarn originating in Syria

(2001/C 199/06)

The Commission has received information alleging that a
significant increase of imports at very low prices of cotton
yarn as defined in point 2 of
this notice (the (cid:145)product
concerned(cid:146)) originating in Syria has caused serious injury or
actually threatens to cause such injury to the Community
to Article 7(1) of Council Regulation
producers. Pursuant
(EC) No 517/94 of 7 March 1994 (1)
((cid:145)the Regulation(cid:146)), the
Commission, on its own initiative, hereby opens an investi-
gation regarding the conditions of
imports of cotton yarn
originating in Syria into the Community, with a view to
determine whether serious injury or of the actual threat of
serious
to Community
producers, and whether any further measure under the Regu-
lation might be justified.

injury is caused by such imports

1. Information received

The Commission has received information from Eurocoton (the
the European cotton textile industry), repre-
Committee of
senting 85 % of Community production of
the product
concerned, alleging that a surge in imports of the product
concerned from Syria into the Community has caused or
actually threatens to cause serious injury to the Community
producers. Data from Eurostat external
trade statistics also
supports the initiation of the present investigation.

2. Product concerned

situation
of
substantially.

Community

producers

has

deteriorated

Even if the current situation were not to be classified as serious
injury yet, the information received indicates that it is clearly
foreseeable that the situation is likely to develop into serious
injury in view of the rate of increase of Syrian exports to the
Community between 1999 and 2000.

The specific evolution of Syrian imports as compared to those
of other third countries, justifies that an investigation is limited
to imports from Syria.

4. Procedure

After having decided that there is sufficient evidence to justify
an investigation with regard to the conditions of imports of the
product concerned, the Commission referred the matter to the
Committee set up under the Regulation in accordance with
Article 25 of the Regulation. The Committee agreed to the
initiation of this investigation.

The product concerned is cotton yarn of category 1 as in
Annex I to the Regulation (2). These CN codes are only given
for information.

4.1. Procedure for the determination of serious injury or

threat thereof

3. Allegation of serious injury or actual threat thereof

to have remained stable since 1996,

Whilst Community consumption of
the product concerned
the Syrian
appears
import volumes and market share has grown steadily since
1996,
increasing both in absolute and in relative terms in
2000 to almost three times its 1999 level.

It is alleged that the volumes and the prices of the imported
product concerned have had, among other consequences, a
negative impact on the market share held, the quantities sold
and the level of prices charged by Community producers of the
like or directly competitive product. It is also claimed that, at
the overall performance and the financial
the same time,

(1) OJ No L 67, 10.3.1994, p. 1.
(2) As last amended by Regulation 2542/1999 (OJ L 307 of 2.12.1999)

CN Codes
5204 11 00, 5204 19 00, 5205 11 00, 5205 12 00, 5205 13 00,
5205 14 00, 5205 15 10, 5205 15 90, 5205 21 00, 5205 22 00,
5205 23 00, 5205 24 00, 5205 26 00, 5205 27 00, 5205 28 00,
5205 31 00, 5205 32 00, 5205 33 00, 5205 34 00, 5205 35 00,
5205 41 00, 5205 42 00, 5205 43 00, 5205 44 00, 5205 46 00,
5205 47 00, 5205 48 00, 5206 11 00, 5206 12 00, 5206 13 00,
5206 14 00, 5206 15 10, 5206 15 90, 5206 21 00, 5206 22 00,
5206 23 00, 5206 24 00, 5206 25 10, 5206 25 90, 5206 31 00,
5206 32 00, 5206 33 00, 5206 34 00, 5206 35 00, 5206 41 00,
5206 42 00, 5206 43 00, 5206 44 00, 5206 45 00, ex 5604 90 00.

The investigation will examine the trend of imports of the
product concerned and the conditions in which they take
place, and shall determine whether such imports are causing
serious injury or an actual
to Community
producers.

thereof

threat

(a) Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for
its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires
to any known Community producers, any association of
to known exporters/
producers
producers
in
exporters/producers
Syria, to known importers, to any known association of
importers, and to the authorities of the exporting country
concerned.

in the Community,
and associations of

In any event, all parties are invited to contact
the
Commission forthwith by fax, but not later than the time
limit set out in point 5(i) of this notice, in order to find out
whether they are already known to the Commission and, if
necessary, request a questionnaire, given that the time limit
set in point 5(ii) of this notice applies to all
interested
parties.

14.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 199/19

(b) Collection of information and holding of hearings

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views
information and to provide
known in writing, submit
supporting evidence. This
information and supporting
evidence has to reach the Commission within the time
limit set in paragraph 5(ii) of this notice.

The Commission will seek all relevant information it deems
necessary, as provided for in Article 7(2) and (3) of the
Regulation.

Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested natural and
legal persons, provided that they make a request in writing
showing that they are actually likely to be affected by the
outcome of
there are special
reasons why they should be heard orally. This request must
be made within the time limit set in paragraph 5(iii).

the investigations and that

any other information within 40 days of the date of publi-
cation of this notice in the Official Journal of the European
Communities, unless otherwise specified.

(iii) Hearings

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

6. Written submissions, questionnaire replies and corre-

spondence

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 of the interested party.

Commission address for correspondence:

5. Time limits

(i) For parties to request a questionnaire

interested parties should request a questionnaire as
All
soon as possible, but not
later than 20 calendar days
after the publication of this notice in the Official Journal
of the European Communities.

European Commission
Directorate-General for Trade
Directorate E
CHAR (cid:151) 8/129
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels
Fax (32-2) 299 47 64.

(ii) For parties to make themselves known, to submit ques-

7. Non-cooperation

tionnaire replies and any other information

interested parties,

All
if their representations are to be
taken into account during the investigation, must make
themselves
the Commission,
present their views and submit questionnaire replies or

known by

contacting

In cases in which any interested party does not provide
information requested by the Commission within a reasonable
findings,
period, or significantly impedes the investigation,
affirmative or negative, may be made in accordance with
Article 7 of the Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.