Brussels, 12/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to review the anti-dumping measures applicable to the import of colour television sets originating in Malaysia, China, Korea, Singapore and Thailand. The elements of proof provided by European producer organisation Poetic (Producers of European Televisions in Cooperation) seems to it to warrant initiating a review procedure, as well as an immediate interim review. While waiting for the end of the procedure, which could lead to the retention, increase even, of the measures beyond their deadline, definitive ad valorem duties introduced close to five years ago, remain in force.
The request for the review, lodged with the Commission in December, following publication of a notice of the forthcoming expiry of the measures in force since 1995, puts forward a certain number of allegations, backed by a series of proof, by which: i) the lifting of the ad valorum duties would play in favour of the continuation of practices that these rights were supposed to abolish, or their reemergence; ii) the volumes and prices of imports from certain of the countries concerned have continued to cause injury to the Community industry, especially in terms of price; iii) this situation could continue to "seriously" deteriorate were the measures to expire, with further financial losses and a further loss of market share for the Community industry. This likelihood is further increased by the sheer size of the capacities at the disposal of these countries and the mobility that characterises the manufacture of television sets; iv) the different markets concerned and the product itself have undergone great changes over the past few years.
The Commission proposes taking Singapore as country of reference to establish the "normal" value of Chinese television sets in the framework of a market economy. An appeal for submission and requests from interested parties was launched on the notice published in the Official Journal No.C/94 of 1 April.