Brussels, 04/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Council of the EU has decided to lay down a definitive anti-dumping duty for some cigarette lighters imported from China and Taiwan. This will, in fact, be a derogation to the measures that have been in force since 1995 that were extended four years later to prevent them being got round via Taiwan (where Chinese merchandise simply changed ship or was slightly modified to avoid having to pay anti-dumping duties). Over the next five years, Chinese and Taiwanese exports of pocket cigarette lighters using stone or gas, both rechargeable and non-rechargeable, will therefore still have a specific duty of 0.065 euro levied for each unit supplied to the European market. In fact, the investigation launched in May 2000 in the light of proof provided by the European Federation of Cigarette Lighter Manufacturers added weight to the fear that dumping would continue or reappear in the absence of counter measures. The investigation not only confirmed that dumping had not ceased, but also showed that it was reaching a level "sharply above the 80.3% noted in previous investigations" (a calculation based on a comparison with the situation in a similar country with a market economy, the Philippines in this case), noted the regulation published in Official Journal L248. The investigation also "clearly" shows that the volume of Chinese exports in question risks rising significantly given the huge unused production capacity in China and the scale of the practises to get round existing duties that have been noted; this sharp rise in exports to the Community was highly likely to be at dumping prices, given the low cost of Chinese exports to other important outlets. The Council resumed the situation by saying it is more than likely that Chinese exports to the Community will recommence on a substantial scale at prices reflecting large-scale dumping, should the existing measures be cancelled.