Brussels, 09/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has initiated an anti-duping procedure on the import of certain iron or steel ropes and cables originating in the Czech Republic, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand and Turkey. The elements of proof provided by the Liaison Committee of the European Union Wire Rope industries seem indeed to demonstrate the existence of dumping - with high margins - and great injury. According to the Committee, which represents 76% of the Community's wire rope production, this injury finds its origin in the dual effect of low prices and a global rise (in absolute terms and in terms of market share) in imports, claimed to be unfair. According to the Committee, this development has had, among other consequences, a fall in market shares and quantities sold by Community producers, whose global performances and financial situations have thus been "seriously affected", as well as jobs within that industry.
In the notice of initiation, published in the Official Journal C/127 of 5 May, the Commission stipulates that it is considering taking the Czech Republic or Brazil as reference market economy country to check the situation on the Russian market (which is not yet considered as a "market economy country").