Brussels, 05/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided to open a series of procedures to verify the existence and scope of trade practices denounced by the Community industry. The opinions, recently published in the Official Journal, concern the opening of procedures concerning:
Antidumping of certain welded tubes and pipes, in iron or non-alloy steel, imported from the Czech Republic, Poland, Thailand, Turkey and the Ukraine. The EU steel and iron welded tubes defence committee, which represents 80% of the Community production, pointed out significant dumping margins, a rise in these imports, both in absolute terms and in terms of market share, and their adverse effect on the market share, sales and prices of their European competitors (OJ C183).
The re-examination of anti-dumping measures taken on 5 June 1996 against imports of active powder coal from China. The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) brought sufficient elements of proof to believe in the continuation of dumping and the suffering in case of an ending of the present measures, or even their intensification and the danger of a new fall in market share, pressure on prices and a fall in the profitability of the Community industry (OJ C163).
The re-examination of anti-dumping measures applicable, since 14 April 1996, to imports of certain piping accessories, in iron or steel, from China and Thailand. The indications given by the Defence committee for the end to end steel welded accessories association to the European Union leaves it to be believed that the dumping, still practised by Thai traders, risks re-emerging after the lifting of the measures, as well as the damage suffered by the Community industry. For China, if the dumping seems to have ended, it is probable that it remerge once the duties are removed, due to a structural propensity to dumping proven by the circumventing that these measures have seen (OJ C103). An interim re-examination has been launched to see if there is reason to modify the form of the measures taken against Thai imports, when taking into account the problems faced in the implementing of the undertakings and their impact on the corrective effect of the antidumping duties.
Antidumping concerning imports of certain machines for polishing loops from India and Indonesia. Elements of proof provided by the European companies (Koloman Handler AG and Krause Ringbuchtechnik GmbH, which represent together more than 85% of the Community production) reveal significant dumping margins and a clear rise in the imports in questions, both in absolute terms and in market share, all of this having seriously affected the global performances, the financial situation and employment within the Community industry (OJ C147).
Anti-subsidies against the same imports. In the case of Indian traders, the subsidies targeted consist of benefits granted by the State to the industry located in the industrial export free zones, an import duty credit scheme, a tax exemption on profits and preferential duties for the importation of equipment goods. For the Indonesians, this concerns schemes that come from the Investment coordination committee (BKPM), tax breaks on profits, specific tax incentives for areas of integrated economic development and free zones, loans from the national bank, an import duty exemption on equipment goods and a two stage loan programme. The total amount of these subsidies is, it seems, "high" and the damage suffered by the European industry significant.
Antidumping targeting certain piping accessories, in iron or steel, imported from the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Russia, Korea and Slovakia. Indications from the EU end to end welded steel accessories association reveal significant dumping margins and a significant prejudice for European industry, which sees a net fall in its global performance and its situation (finances and employment), while the imports in question have risen. The Czech Republic and Slovakia will act as a reference for the calculation of the normal value of Russian products (OJ C159).
Re-examination of anti-dumping measures taken on 14 June 1996 against imports of texture polyester threads from Taiwan. The International Committee of Rayon and Synthetic Fibres (IRSFC), which represents more than 50% of the Community production asserts, with supporting evidence, that dumping has not stopped since the implementation of the measures aimed at countering it and they may even grow, alongside the damage suffered by the European industry, if the duties are not extended beyond their deadline (OJ C170).
Furthermore, the Commission closed the examination of the compensatory duty defined imposed since 14 November 1998 on imports of stainless steel bars from India, after the withdrawal of the request filed by Capico Trading Private Limited, an Indian producers located in Bombay (OJ C161).