Commercial Information Circulars
24-hour hotline: 23 922 922
Ref : EIC 230/2/3/2/13
5 August 1999
Dear Sirs,
Commercial Information Circular No. 118/99
European Union (EU) : Initiation of an Investigation Concerning the Alleged Circumvention of Anti-dumping Measures Imposed on Imports of Certain Tube and Pipe Fittings of Iron or Steel Originating in the Mainland of China by Imports of the Same Products Transhipped through Taiwan
The Department has received information that the European Commission (the EC) has published a regulation (the Regulation) in the Official Journal of European Communities initiating an investigation into the alleged circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of certain tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel (tube and pipe fittings) originating in the mainland of China by imports of the same products transhipped through Taiwan. The Regulation also requires imports of tube and pipe fittings consigned from Taiwan to be subject to registration. A copy of the Regulation is appended to this circular for reference.
DETAILS
2.The complaint was lodged by the Defence Committee of the EEC steel butt-welding fittings industry. Allegedly, the anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of tube and pipe fittings originating in the mainland of China was being circumvented by imports of the same products transhipped through Taiwan. The Defence Committee also requested the EC to register imports of tube and pipe fittings consigned from Taiwan and to extend the anti-dumping duties applicable to imports of tube and pipe fittings originating in the mainland of China to imports of the same products consigned from Taiwan should circumvention be established.
3.Having considered the case, the EC initiated the investigation and required registration of imports of tube and pipe fittings consigned from Taiwan. Details of the Regulation are as follows :
| (a) | Date of Initiation : 30 July 1999 |
| (b) | Products Coverage : Tube and pipe fittings (other than cast fittings, flanges and threaded fittings), of iron or steel (not including stainless steel), with a greatest external diameter not exceeding 609.6 mm, of a kind used for butt-welding or other purposes, falling within CN codes ex 7307 9311, ex 7307 9319, ex 7307 9930 and ex 7307 9990. |
| (c) |
Procedures : The EC will send questionnaires to Taiwanese exporting producers and traders named in the complaint in order to obtain necessary information for the investigation. Any interested parties which have not received the questionnaire should request one from the EC within 15 days from 30 July 1999 in writing, indicating their name, address, telephone, fax number and E-mail address. All interested parties should make their views known in writing (including by replying to the questionnaire), and apply to be heard by the EC within 40 days from 30 July 1999. All correspondences should be addressed to the following address : European Commission Directorate General for External Relations : Commercial Policy and Relations with North America, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand Directorate C and E DM24-8/37 Rue de la Loi/Westraat 200 B-1040 Brussels Fax No.: (32-2) 295 6505 Telex : COMEU B21877 |
| (d) |
Registration of Imports : With effect from 31 July 1999, certain tube and pipe fittings consigned from Taiwan falling within CN codes ex 7307 9311, ex 7307 9319, ex 7307 9930 and ex 7307 9990 have been subject to registrations by the EU's customs authorities. The registration shall expire nine months from 31 July 1999. Should the anti-dumping duties applicable to imports of tube and pipe fittings originating in the mainland of China be extended to the imports of the same products consigned from Taiwan, such duties may be collected from the date of registration. |
| (e) | Customs Certificate : Imports accompanied by a customs certificate will be exempted from registration. Such certificate may be granted when the importation does not constitute circumvention. Interested importer may apply for such certificate as early as possible. The EC will consider application for such certificate on the basis of a thorough appraisal of the merits of such application. |
ENQUIRIES
| 4. | For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at telephone number 2398 5351. |
Yours faithfully,
(Thomas CHEUNG)
for Director-General of Trade
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.