Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) originating in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan
Date: 2006-12-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: China, Taiwan, anti-dumping legislation, chemical alcohol, import, originating product

19.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 311/47

Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
originating in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan

(2006/C 311/09)

The Commission has received a complaint pursuant to Article 5
of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 on protection against
dumped imports from countries not members of the European
Community (‘the basic Regulation’) (1), alleging that imports of
polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), originating in the People's Republic of
China and Taiwan (‘the countries concerned’), are being dumped
and are thereby causing material
injury to the Community
industry.

1. Complaint

The complaint was lodged on 6 November 2006 by Kuraray
Specialties Europe GmbH (‘the complainant’) representing a
in this case more than 25 %, of the total
major proportion,
Community production of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).

2. Product

The product allegedly being dumped is certain polyvinyl alco-
hols in the form of homo-polymer resins with a viscosity
(measured in 4 % solution) of 3 mPas or more but not
exceeding 61 mPas and a degree of hydrolysis of 84,0 mol % or
more but not exceeding 99,9 mol % originating in the People's
Republic of China and Taiwan (‘the product concerned’),
normally declared within CN code ex 3905 30 00. This CN
code is only given for information.

3. Allegation of dumping

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

export prices of

In view of the provisions of Article 2(7) of the basic Regulation,
the complainant established a normal value for the People's
the price in a market
Republic of China on the basis of
economy country, which is mentioned in point 5.1(d). The alle-
gation of dumping is based on a comparison of normal value,
thus calculated, with the export prices of the product concerned
when sold for export to the Community.

On this basis, the dumping margin calculated is significant.

(1) OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC)

No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17).

4. Allegation of injury

The complainant has provided evidence that imports of the
product concerned from the People's Republic of China and
Taiwan 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 level of prices charged by the Com-
munity industry, resulting in substantial adverse effects on its
financial situation and 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 Com-
munity 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 the People's Republic of China and Taiwan is
being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury.

(a) Sampling

In view of the apparent large number of parties involved in
this proceeding,
the Commission may decide to apply
sampling in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regu-
lation.

(i) Sampling

for
People's Republic of China

expor ters/producers

in

the

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether
sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all
exporters/producers, or representatives acting on their
behalf, are hereby requested to make themselves known
by contacting the Commission and providing the
following information on their company or companies
within the time limit set in point 6(b)(i) and in the
format indicated in point 7:

— name, address, e-mail address, telephone, and fax

numbers and contact person,

— the turnover in local currency and the volume in
tonnes of the product concerned sold for export to
the Community during the period 1 October 2005
— 30 September 2006,

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Official Journal of the European Union

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— the turnover in local currency and the sales volume
in tonnes
the product concerned on the
domestic market during the period 1 October 2005
— 30 September 2006,

for

— whether the company intends to claim an individual
margin (1) (individual margins can only be claimed
by producers),

— the precise activities of the company with regard to

the production of the product concerned,

— the names and the precise activities of all related
involved in the production and/or
the product

companies (2)
selling (export and/or domestic) of
concerned,

— the total turnover in euro of the company during
the period 1 October 2005 — 30 September 2006,

— the total number of employees,

— the precise activities of the company with regard to

the product concerned,

— the volume in tonnes and value in euro of imports
into and resales made in the Community market
during the period 1 October 2005 — 30 September
2006 of the imported product concerned origin-
ating in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan,

— the names and the precise activities of all related
involved in the production and/or

companies (3)
selling of the product concerned,

— any other relevant information that would assist the

Commission in the selection of the sample,

— any other relevant information that would assist the

Commission in the selection of the sample,

— by providing the above information, the company
agrees to its possible inclusion in the sample. If the
company is chosen to be part of the sample, this
will imply replying to a questionnaire and accepting
an on-the-spot investigation of its response. If the
company indicates that
it does not agree to its
possible inclusion in the sample, it will be deemed
to not have co-operated in the investigation. The
consequences of non-cooperation are set out
in
point 8 below.

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary
for the selection of the sample of exporters/producers,
the Commission will, in addition, contact the authori-
ties of the exporting country, and any known associa-
tions of exporters/producers.

(ii) Sampling for impor ters

In order to enable the Commission to decide whether
sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all
importers, or representatives acting on their behalf, are
hereby requested to make themselves known to the
Commission and to provide the following information
on their company or companies within the time limit
set in point 6(b)(i) and in the formats indicated in point
7:

— name, address, e-mail address, telephone, and fax

numbers and contact person,

(1) Individual margins may be claimed pursuant to Article 17(3) of the
basic Regulation for companies not included in the sample, Article 9(5)
of the basic Regulation concerning individual treatment in cases invol-
ving non market economy countries/economies in transition, and
Article 2(7)(b) of the basic Regulation for companies claiming market
economy status. Note that claims for individual treatment necessitate
an application pursuant to Article 9(5) of the basic Regulation and that
claims regarding market economy status necessitate an application
pursuant to Article 2(7)(b) of the basic Regulation.

(2) For guidance on the meaning of related companies, please refer to
Article 143 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down
provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No
2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ L 253,
11.10.1993, p. 1).

— by providing the above information, the company
agrees to its possible inclusion in the sample. If the
company is chosen to be part of the sample, this
will imply replying to a questionnaire and accepting
an on-the-spot investigation of its response. If the
company indicates that
it does not agree to its
possible inclusion in the sample, it will be deemed
to not have co-operated in the investigation. The
in
consequences of non-cooperation are set out
point 8 below.

the selection of

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary
the
for
Commission will, in addition, contact any known asso-
ciations of importers.

the sample of

importers,

(iii) Final selection of the samples

All
interested parties wishing to submit any relevant
information regarding the selection of the sample must
do so within the time limit set in point 6(b)(ii).

samples

The Commission intends to make the final selection of
the
the parties
concerned that have expressed their willingness to be
included in the sample.

after having

consulted

Companies included in the samples must reply to a
questionnaire within the time limit set in point 6(b)(iii)
and must cooperate within the framework of the inves-
tigation.

forthcoming,

sufficient co-operation is not

the
If
Commission may base its findings, in accordance with
Articles 17(4) and 18 of the basic Regulation, on the
facts available. A finding based on facts available may
be less advantageous
to the party concerned, as
explained in point 8.

(3) For guidance on the meaning of related companies, please refer to
Article 143 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down
provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No
2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code (OJ L 253,
11.10.1993, p. 1).

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C 311/49

(b) Questionnaires

(e) Market economy status

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 produ-
cers in the Community, to the sampled exporters/producers
in the People's Republic of China, to the exporters/producers
in Taiwan, to any association of exporters/producers, to the
sampled importers, to any association of importers named
in the complaint, and to the authorities of the exporting
countries concerned.

(i) Expor ters/producers in Taiwan

All such interested parties should contact the Commis-
sion forthwith by fax, but not later than the time limit
set out in point 6(a)(i), 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 point 6(a)
(ii) applies to all such interested parties.

(ii) Expor ters/producers

claiming

an individual

margin in the People's Republic of China

Exporters/producers in the People's Republic of China
claiming an individual margin, with a view to the appli-
cation of Articles 17(3) and 9(6) of the basic Regulation,
must submit a completed questionnaire within the time
limit set in point 6(a)(ii) of this notice. They therefore
have to request a questionnaire within the time limit set
in point 6(a)(i). However, such parties should be aware
that if sampling is applied to exporters/producers, the
Commission may nonetheless decide not to calculate an
individual margin for them, if the number of exporters/
producers is so large that individual examination would
be unduly burdensome and would prevent the timely
completion of the investigation.

For those exporters/producers in the People's Republic of
China who 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 point 6(d).
The Commission will send claim forms to all exporters/
producers in the People's Republic of China who have either
been included in the sample or named in the complaint and
to any association of exporters/producers named in the
the People's
complaint, as well as to the authorities of
Republic of China.

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 point 6(a)(ii), 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 point 6(a)(iii). 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

(c) Collection of information and holding of hearings

(i) For par ties to request a questionnaire or other

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 point 6(a)(ii).

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 point 6(a)(iii).

(d) Selection of the market economy country

In accordance with Article 2(7)(a) of the basic Regulation, it
is envisaged to choose Japan as an appropriate market
economy country for the purpose of establishing normal
value in respect of the People's Republic of China. Interested
parties are hereby invited to comment on the appropriate-
ness of this choice within the specific time limit set in point
6(c).

claim for ms

All interested parties should request a questionnaire or
other claim forms as soon as possible, but not later
than 10 days after the publication of this notice in the
Official Journal of the European Union.

(ii) For par ties

to make themselves known,

to
submit questionnaire replies and any other
infor mation

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.

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Companies selected in a sample must submit question-
naire replies within the time limits specified in point 6
(b)(iii).

(iii) Hear ings

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

(b) Specific time limit in respect of sampling

the European Union, given that
to consult parties

(i) The information specified in point 5.1(a)(i) and 5.1(a)(ii)
should reach the Commission within 15 days of the
date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal
of
the Commission
concerned that have
intends
expressed their willingness to be included in the sample
on its final selection within a period of 21 days of the
publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the
European Union.

(ii) All other information relevant for the selection of the
sample as referred to in 5.1(a)(iii) must
reach the
Commission within a period of 21 days of the publica-
tion of this notice in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

(iii) The questionnaire replies from sampled parties must
reach the Commission within 37 days from the date of
the notification of their inclusion in the sample.

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

Parties to the investigation may wish to comment on the
appropriateness of Japan which, as mentioned in point 5.1
the
is envisaged as a market-economy country for
(d),
purpose of establishing normal value in respect of
the
People's Republic of China. These comments must reach the
Commission within 10 days of the date of publication of
this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(d) Specific time limit for submission of claims for market economy

status and/or for individual treatment

Duly substantiated claims for market economy status (as
mentioned in point 5.1(e)) and/or for individual treatment
pursuant to Article 9(5) of the basic Regulation, must reach
the Commission within 15 days of the date of publication
of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

7. Written submissions, questionnaire replies and cor-

respondence

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 numbers of the interested party. All written
submissions, including the information requested in this notice,
questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested
parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as ‘Limited (1)’
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 5/16
B-1049 Brussels
Fax (32-2) 295 65 05.

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 find-
ings, 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. If an interested
party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially and find-
ings are therefore based on facts available in accordance with
Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favour-
able to that party than if it had cooperated.

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 publi-
cation of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.
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
Union.

(1) 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 Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European
Parliament, Council and Commission documents
(OJ L 145,
31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19
of the basic Regulation and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Imple-
mentation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).