Commercial Information Circular

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

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

10 November 2020

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 829/2020

European Union (EU)* : Termination of the anti-subsidy proceeding concerning imports of certain hot rolled stainless steel sheets and coils originating in, inter alia, the Mainland of China

Further to Commercial Information Circular No. 754/2019 of 18 October 2019, the European Commission (the Commission) has adopted an Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1653 on 9 November 2020 announcing the termination of the anti-subsidy proceeding concerning imports of certain hot rolled stainless steel sheets and coils originating in, inter alia, the Mainland of China. The Implementing Decision is available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020D1653&from=EN.

2.The product concerned is flat-rolled products of stainless steel, whether or not in coils (including products cut-to-length and narrow strip), not further worked than hot-rolled and excluding products, not in coils, of a width of 600 mm or more and of a thickness exceeding 10 mm, currently falling under HS codes 7219 11, 7219 12, 7219 13, 7219 14, 7219 22, 7219 23, 7219 24, 7220 11 and 7220 12.

3.On 18 September 2020, the European Steel Association who lodged the complaint concerning subsidisation of the product concerned informed the Commission that they withdrew the complaint. Under the EU's anti‑subsidy rules, proceedings may be terminated where the complaint is withdrawn, unless such termination would not be in the EU interest. The investigation had not brought to light any considerations showing that a continuation of the case would be in the EU interest. The Commission therefore concluded that the anti-subsidy proceeding should be terminated without the imposition of measures.

4.For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5684.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Ronnie CHUI)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

* The EU comprises of 27 member countries, namely, 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 and Sweden. The United Kingdom (UK) withdrew from the EU with effect from 31 January 2020, and has entered an implementation period which is due to last until 31 December 2020. During the implementation period, the EU law will continue to apply in the UK generally.