Brussels, 20/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - The controversy on raw, non-alloy aluminium import duties is rather old, as it dates back to 1997. It could, however, be halted on a temporary basis in the next few weeks with a decision from the Council. The German presidency has found a more compromise that makes the proposal put on the table by the Commission in January to reduce Community custom duties on Community customs duties on raw aluminium imports by half and get rid of them by 2009, more flexible. Poland finds this proposal particularly interesting. The country uses this product as a raw material and imports half from Russia. It has been hit hard by import tariffs (EUROPE 9200). Germany is a big producer and is coming under the pressure of international pressure . It is supported by other member state aluminium producers and has opposed reducing these duties for a long time. To push the dossier forward, the German presidency is, nevertheless, proposing a compromise for not backdating these 50% reductions in duties to 1 January 2007. They will be reduced when the legislative act comes into force. Berlin is proposing that the decision will be reviewed in three years instead of definitively abolishing the duties. According to a German Community source close to the dossier, no delegation opposed the German compromise during the 133 Committee meeting last Friday. The dossier has now been sent to the Council working group on economic and customs questions in an effort to put the final touches to the details, before COREPER examines it and the Council gives its validation. (eh)