Commercial Information Circulars

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

26 February 2010

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 89/2010

European Union (EU)* : Result of Expiry Review of the Anti-dumping Measures on Imports of Certain Ring Binder Mechanisms Originating in the Mainland of China

Further to the Commercial Information Circular No. 614/2008 of 5 December 2008, the Council of the EU has published a regulation announcing the decision to maintain the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms (RBMs) originating in the Mainland of China for another five years, consequent to an expiry review. The regulation can be accessed through the following link : http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:049:0001:0013:EN:PDF.

DETAILS

Salient points are set out below-

(a) Product

Ring binder mechanisms consisting of two steel sheets or wires with at least four half-rings made of steel wire fixed on them and which are kept together by a steel cover, opened either by pulling the half rings or with a small steel trigger mechanism fixed to the ring binder mechanism, classified within CN code ex 8305 1000.

(b) Rate of Duty

The rate of the definitive anti-dumping duty applicable to the net, free-at-Union-frontier price, before duty, shall be as follows -

(i) for mechanisms with 17 and 23 rings (TARIC codes 8305 10 00 21, 8305 10 00 23, 8305 10 00 29 and 8305 10 00 35), the amount of duty shall be equal to the difference between the minimum import price of EUR 325 per 1,000 pieces and the net, free-at-Union-frontier price, before duty;

(ii) for mechanisms other than those with 17 or 23 rings (TARIC codes 8305 10 00 11, 8305 10 00 13, 8305 10 00 19 and 8305 10 00 34), the rate of duty is 78.8% (except for one company with an individual duty rate at 51.2%).

The customs duties shall apply for the products concerned, unless otherwise specified.

27 February 2010

(d) Duration

Five years

Meanwhile, with effect from 27 February 2010, definitive anti-dumping duties equal to the difference between the minimum import price of EUR 325 per 1,000 pieces and the net, free-at-Union-frontier price before duty (for mechanisms with 17 and 23 rings), and of 78.8% (for mechanisms other than those with 17 or 23 rings ) and applicable to imports originating in the Mainland of China are imposed on imports of the same products consigned from Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, whether declared as originating in Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic or not. The duties will be in force for five years from 27 February 2010. The TARIC codes for imports consigned from Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic are listed in the regulation.

BACKGROUND

Definitive anti-dumping duty on certain RBMs originating in the Mainland of China has 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 net, free-at-Union-frontier price before duty. As for mechanisms other than those with 17 or 23 rings, the current duty rate is 78.8% of the net, free-at-Union-frontier price before duty. Consequent to an expiry review, the anti-dumping duty has been extended for four years since 5 December 2004. Furthermore, based on the findings of two separate circumvention investigations, the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of certain RBMs originating in the Mainland of China has been extended to imports of the same products consigned from Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, whether declared as originating in Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic or not.
On the basis of a request lodged by the Union producer Ring Alliance Ringbuchtechnik GmbH representing more than 50 % of the total Union production of RBMs, the European Commission initiated the second expiry review on 5 December 2008.

ENQUIRIES

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

Yours faithfully,

(Alex LI)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, 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.

(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.