Commercial Information Circulars

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Ref : 230/2/3/2/13

27 August 2013

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 690/2013

European Union (EU) * : Initiation of a Partial Interim Review of the Anti-dumping Measures Imposed on Imports of Steel Ropes and Cables Originating in the Mainland of China, as Extended to Imports Consigned from the Republic of Korea, whether Declared as Originating in the Republic of Korea or not

Further to the Commercial Information Circulars Nos. 101/2012 of 9 February 2012 and 390/2012 of 30 May 2012, the European Commission (the Commission) has initiated a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the Mainland of China, as extended to imports consigned from the Republic of Korea, whether declared as originating in the Republic of Korea or not. The notice can be accessed through the following link:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2013:246:0005:0007:EN:PDF

DETAILS

Ground for the Review

2.The partial interim review is initiated at the request lodged by an exporting producer from the Republic of Korea, Goodwire MFG. Co. LTD ("the applicant"). It is limited in scope to the examination of possibility of granting an exemption, as far as the applicant is concerned, from the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the Mainland of China, as extended to imports consigned from the Republic of Korea, whether declared as originating in the Republic of Korea or not.

3.The applicant is said to have provided prima facie evidence demonstrating that it is a genuine producer of the product under review able to produce the entire quantity that it has shipped to the Union since the start of the anti-circumvention investigation leading to the imposition of the existing measures. It alleges to be not related to exporting producers subject to the existing measures, and that it is not circumventing the measures applicable to steel ropes and cables originating in the Mainland of China

Review Procedures

4.Salient points of the partial interim review are set out below-

(a) Date of Publication of the Notice	:	27 August 2013
(b) Product Coverage	:	Steel ropes and cables, including locked coil ropes, excluding ropes and cables of stainless steel, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeding 3 mm, originating in the Mainland of China or consigned from the Republic of Korea, whether declared as originating in the Republic of Korea or not, currently falling within CN codes ex 7312 10 81, ex 7312 10 83, ex 7312 10 85, ex 7312 10 89 and ex 7312 1098 (TARIC codes 7312 10 81 13, 7312 10 83 13, 7312 10 85 13, 7312 10 89 13 and 7312 10 98 13).
(c) Procedures	:	In order to obtain information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaire to the applicant as an exporting producer. This information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within 37 days from 27 August 2013, unless otherwise specified. All interested parties are invited to make their views known, submit information and to provide supporting evidence within 37 days from 27 August 2013, unless otherwise specified. They may also request to be heard by the Commission investigation services. Any request to be heard must be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the investigation, the request must be submitted within 15 days from 27 August 2013. Thereafter, a request to be heard must be submitted within the specific deadlines set by the Commission in its communication with the parties. Interested parties are required to make all submissions and requests in electronic format (non-confidential submissions via e-mail, confidential ones on CD-R/DVD), and must indicate their name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers. However, any powers of attorney, signed certifications, and any updates thereof, accompanying questionnaire replies must be submitted on paper, i.e. by post or by hand, at the address below. If an interested party cannot provide its submissions and requests in electronic format, it must immediately contact the Commission. For further information concerning correspondence with the Commission, interested parties may consult the relevant web page on the website of the Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade): http://ec.europa.eu/trade/tackling-unfair-trade/trade-defence. Commission address for correspondence: European Commission Directorate-General for Trade Directorate H Office: N105 08/020 1049 Brussels Belgium Fax: +32 2299 3704 E-mail: TRADE-SWR-R579-DUMP@ec.europa.eu Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer of DG Trade, who acts as an interface between the interested parties and the Commission investigation services through reviewing requests for access to the file, disputes regarding the confidentiality of documents, requests for extension of time-limits and requests by third parties to be heard. A request for a hearing with the Hearing Officer should be made in writing and should specify the reasons for the request. For hearings on issues pertaining to the initial stage of the review investigation, the request must be submitted within 15 days from 27 August 2013. For further information and contact details, interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages on DG Trade's website.
(d) Investigation Schedule	:	The investigation will be concluded within 15 months from 27 August 2013.

BACKGROUND

5.Definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in, inter alia, the Mainland of China was first imposed with effect from 18 August 1999 with a rate of duty as 60.4% of the CIF net, free-at-Union-frontier price before duty. Following an expiry review, the duty was maintained for another five years with effect from 17 November 2005.

6.Consequent to two separate circumvention investigations, the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of steel ropes and cables originating in the Mainland of China was extended to imports of the same products consigned from Morocco (TARIC codes 7312 10 81 12, 7312 10 83 12, 7312 10 85 12, 7312 10 89 12 and 7312 10 98 12) and the Republic of Korea (TARIC codes 7312 10 81 13, 7312 10 83 13, 7312 10 85 13, 7312 10 89 13 and 7312 10 98 13), whether declared as originating in Morocco or the Republic of Korea or not (details can be found in Commercial Information Circulars No. 280/2004 of 9 November 2004 and No. 204/2010 of 12 May 2010).

7.Following another expiry review, the definitive anti-dumping duty as extended to imports of the same products consigned from Morocco and the Republic of Korea, whether declared as originating in Morocco or the Republic of Korea or not, is maintained for a further five years with effect from 10 February 2012.

ENQUIRIES

8.For enquiries concerning the contents of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Stella CHAN)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

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

Note 1:	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.
Note 2:	The biweekly newsletter "Business Alert - EU" of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council provides up-to-date information on the latest developments in EU trade policy and trade regulations. The newsletter is available for free e-subscription and can be accessed through http://www.tdctrade.com/alert/eualert.htm.