Commercial Information Circulars

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e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 230/2/3/2/13

13 January 2006

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 24/2006

European Union (EU)* : Extension of the Definitive Anti-dumping Duty Imposed on Imports of Certain Ring Binder Mechanisms Originating in the Mainland of China to Imports of the Same Products Consigned from the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Whether Declared as Originating in the Lao People's Democratic Republic or Not

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 132/2005 of 15 April 2005, the Council of the EU (the Council) has published a regulation to extend the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the mainland of China to imports of the same products consigned from the Lao People's Democratic Republic, whether declared as originating in the Lao People's Democratic Republic or not. A copy of the regulation is at Annex (pdf format) for reference.

DETAILS

2. The European Commission (the Commission) published a regulation on 13 April 2005 to initiate an investigation into the alleged circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the mainland of China by imports of the same products consigned from the Lao People's Democratic Republic. 
    
3. Based on the findings of the circumvention investigation, the Council has decided that with effect from 13 January 2006, the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of ring binder mechanisms consisting of two rectangular steel sheets or wires with at least four half-rings made of steel wire fixed on it and which are kept together by a steel cover, opened either by pulling the half-rings or with a small steel-made trigger mechanism fixed to the ring binder mechanism, and falling within CN code ex 8305 10 00, is extended to imports of the same products consigned from the Lao People's Democratic Republic, whether declared as originating in the Lao People's Democratic Republic or not (TARIC codes 8305 10 00 13 and 8305 10 00 23).
    
4. Exporters concerned which intend to lodge a request for an exemption from the extended anti-dumping duty are required to complete a questionnaire in order to enable the Commission to determine whether an exemption may be warranted. Requests for exemption should be made in writing in one of the official languages of the Community and must be signed by a person authorised to represent the applicant. The request must be sent to the following address:

   European Commission
   Directorate-General for Trade
   Directorate B
   Office : J-79 05/17
   B-1049 Brussels
   Fax : (32-2) 295 65 05
   Telex : COMEU B 21877　

5. With the extension of the anti-dumping duty, the registration requirement of imports of certain ring binder mechanisms consigned from the Lao People's Democratic Republic, whether declared as originating in the Lao People's Democratic Republic or not, falling within CN code ex 8305 10 00 (TARIC codes 8305 10 00 13 and 8305 10 00 23), is discontinued.
    
6. Definitive anti-dumping duties on certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the mainland of China have been imposed since 25 January 1997. The current duty rate for mechanisms with 17 and 23 rings is the differences between minimum import price of EUR 325 per 1,000 pieces and the free-at-Community-frontier not cleared through customs price. As for mechanisms other than those with 17 or 23 rings, the current duty rate is 78.8% of the net, free-at-Community-frontier price before duty (except for one company at 51.2%). Consequent to an expiry review, the anti-dumping duties were extended for another four years since 5 December 2004. Furthermore, based on the findings of a circumvention investigation, the Council of the EU has extended, with effect from 2 July 2004, the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the mainland of China to imports of the same products consigned from Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Vietnam or not (TARIC codes 8305 10 00 11 and 8305 10 00 21).

ENQUIRIES

7. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5351.

Yours faithfully,

(Ricky CHENG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.