Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : CR EIC 230/2/3/1

8 December 2006

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 492/2006

European Union (EU)* : Public Consultation on European Trade Defence Instruments

The European Commission (the Commission) has adopted a Green Paper to launch a public consultation on the application of the EU Trade Defence Instruments (including anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard measures) on 6 December 2006. Comments are invited from all stakeholders and the consultation will end on 31 March 2007.

DETAILS

2. EU Trade Defence Instruments are used to defend EU producers against unfair trade practices such as dumping or subsidies. As many EU companies now produce goods outside the EU for imports into the EU or outsource some steps in their production process, the traditional understanding of what constitutes EU production and the EU's economic interest has been changed. The Commission launches the consultation with a view to help ensure that EU Trade Defence Instruments are fully adapted to changes in the global economy and serve the overall economic interest of the EU. The Commission's Special Green Paper webpage and the Green Paper can be accessed through the respective links below :

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/respectrules/anti_dumping/comu061206_en.htm
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/december/tradoc_131477.pdf

3. All stakeholders, including producers and exporters, may use the Commission's questionnaire (Annex (pdf format) ) to reply to the Green Paper. Replies should reach the Commission by 31 March 2007 at Trade-tdi-green-paper@ec.europa.eu. Comments received by the Commission will be made available online unless a specific request for confidentiality is made, in which case only an indication of the contributor will be given. Following the public debate, the Commission intends to present a communication with legislative proposals before the end of 2007.

ENQUIRIES

4. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5350.

Yours faithfully,

(Bill WONG)
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.

Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.