Brussels, 17/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Union has decided to reduce to 21% the definitive anti-dumping duty on the import of polyester staple fibres originating in Belarus that remains in force for a further five-year term. The Community investigation, the conclusions of which are summarised in the Official Journal L 247, refer both to the durable change in the situation invoked on the Belarus side and the possible recurrence of dumping should no countermeasures be taken. It essentially confirms the fears of the European industry, represented in this affair by the International Rayon and Synthetic Fibres Committee (CIRFS), and the appropriateness of retaining the five-yearly measures taken in 1996 and extended, a year later, to the import of polyester filament tow so as to prevent circumvention. It observed, in particular that Belarus had exported its products to third countries at dumping prices and that its sole producer-exporter had rather significant unused production capacities (over 40% of the total). The Union whence considers it "likely" that the European industry (still vulnerable despite the protection offered by the defensive surtaxes) would suffer a worsening of its financial situation, and that "without such measures, it is realistic to envisage an additional reduction of the workforce and the closing down of production plants".