In view of the potentially large number of exporting producers in the Mainland of China involved in the proceeding and in order to complete the investigation within the statutory time limits, the Commission may apply sampling. To enable the Commission to decide whether sampling is necessary and, if so, to select a sample, all exporting producers, or representatives acting on their behalf, are requested to make themselves known by providing the Commission with the information requested in Annex I to the notice, including identity and contact details, turnover, sales volume, activities of the company and related companies, and the company's investments relating to the product under investigation. By providing the information, the company agrees to its possible inclusion in the sample. If selected to be in the sample, the company will have to complete a questionnaire and accept a visit at its premises in order to verify its response. Such information should reach the Commission within 15 days from 13 May 2016, unless otherwise specified.

All interested parties wishing to submit any other relevant information regarding the selection of the sample must do so within 21 days from 13 May 2016, unless otherwise specified.

If a sample is necessary, the exporting producers may be selected based on the largest representative volume of exports to the EU which can reasonably be investigated within the time available.  All known exporting producers, the authorities of the Mainland of China, and associations of exporting producers will be notified of the companies selected to be in the sample.  All exporting producers selected to be in the sample and the authorities of the Mainland of China will have to submit a completed questionnaire within 37 days from the date of notification of the sample selection, unless otherwise specified.  Companies that have agreed to their possible inclusion in the sample but are not selected to be in the sample will be considered to be cooperating.  Non-sampled cooperating exporting producers wishing to claim an individual subsidy margin must request a questionnaire and return it duly completed within the same deadline.  Exporting producers claiming an individual subsidy margin should be aware that the Commission may nonetheless decide not to determine their individual subsidy margin if, for instance, the number of exporting producers is so large that such determination would be unduly burdensome and would prevent the timely completion of the investigation.

Subject to the provisions of the notice, all interested parties are invited to make their views known, submit information and to provide supporting evidence within 37 days from 13 May 2016, unless otherwise specified.

All interested parties may request to be heard by the Commission investigation services.  Any request to be heard should 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 13 May 2016.  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 invited to make all submissions and requests by, in general, email including scanned powers of attorney and certification sheets.  By using email, interested parties express their agreement with the rules applicable to electronic submissions contained in the document 'CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN TRADE DEFENCE CASES' available at:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2011/june/tradoc_148003.pdf.

Commission address for correspondence:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Trade
Directorate H
Office: CHAR 04/039
1049 Brussels
Belgium

Email SUBSIDY: TRADE-HRF-SUBSIDY@ec.europa.eu
Email INJURY: TRADE-HRF-INJURY@ec.europa.eu

Interested parties may request the intervention of the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings, 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 investigation the request must be submitted within 15 days from 13 May 2016. For further information and contact details, interested parties may consult the Hearing Officer's web pages at: