Brussels, 25/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Council of the Union recently adopted a series of regulations aimed at countering certain unfair trading practices that may cause injury to the Community industry. The measures taken in this context are (see OJ NoL127):
1. A definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of urea ammonium nitrate solutions from Poland, with a specific amount per tonne, fixed at 19 to 22 euros according to the companies targeted. Review of such measures, that will soon be reaching their expiry date, confirmed that repeal would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping. This is due to the capacity of Polish producers to increase their production and export volumes as their export prices are considerably lower than the normal value applied on other markets, mainly in North America. It is also due to the proximity of the Community market. The Union, therefore, does not wish to take such a risk all the more as the Community industry is still in a "precarious" situation, especially in terms of profitability, the Regulation stresses.
2. A definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of urea from Russia. These review proceedings, undertaken as above at the request of the European Fertiliser Manufacturers' Association (EFMA), shows that, should the measures in force be repealed, dumping could reoccur. This is due to the amount of unused capacities in Russia; the high volume of exports to Brazil, Mexico and Turkey at prices below those (already at dumping levels) they reserve for the European market; and the attraction of this proximity market. The duty is fixed at an amount equal to the difference between 115 euros per tonne (minimum export price) and the net price.
3. Modification of definitive countervailing duties on imports of synthetic fibres of polyester originating in Australia, Indonesia and Taiwan. This brings the duties levied on imports from Taiwan to zero. Reimbursement is pledged further to the inconsistencies noted by the Court of First Instance in the method that had led to the levying of a duty on imports from Taiwan, and the subsequent revision of the Community analysis of the subsidy regime, mainly for this country. By way of conclusion, the Council notes that these subsidies were in fact de minimis (less than 1%) and that "countervailing measures concerning imports of synthetic fibres of polyester from Taiwan should be repealed with retroactive effect".
4. A definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain aluminium foil originating in the People's Republic of China and Russia (see OJ NlL134). An inquiry was opened following a complaint filed by Eurométaux (on behalf of Alcan Europe, Elval, Eurofoil, Lawson Mardon Star, Pechiney Rehenalu and VAW Aluminium Business Unit Foil). It confirmed the existence of dumping (with a margin of 26.8% for China and 14.9% for Russia) and considerable injury as a result. The substantial increase in volume and market share of imports from these two countries, the sharp fall in prices, as well as the level of under-cutting and price depression noted had considerable adverse effects on the Community industry's prices and sales volumes. In turn, these affected various economic indicators, mainly profitability, it is summarised in the new Regulation. The rates of duties applied to enterprises in China and Russia found guilty of dumping are fixed at 15 and 14.9% respectively, except for the Russian exporter, Siberian Aluminium, which benefits from an exoneration given the plausible commitments to which it subscribed in order to redress the situation.
5. Amendment of the list of television camera systems from Japan subject to anti-dumping duties since last September, in order to rule out new models and accessories of the Sony brand (camera head, viewfinder, control unit).