Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of hand pallet trucks and their essential parts originating in the People's Republic of China

(2006/C 127/02)

The Commission has decided on its own initiative to initiate a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (‘the basic Regulation’) (1). The review is limited in scope to dumping aspects as far as one exporting producer, Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co., Ltd, (‘the company’) is concerned.

1.   Product

The product under review is hand pallet trucks and their essential parts, i.e. chassis and hydraulics, originating in the People's Republic of China (‘the product concerned’), currently classifiable within CN code ex 8427 90 00 and ex 8431 20 00. These CN codes are given only for information.

2.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are a definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1174/2005 (2).

3.   Grounds for the review

There is sufficient prima facie evidence available to the Commission that the circumstances on the basis of which the existing measures were established have changed and that these changes are of a lasting nature.

The information at the Commission's disposal indicates that market economy conditions prevail for the company as demonstrated by the fact that it fulfils the criteria of Article 2(7)(c) of the basic Regulation. Furthermore, a comparison of normal value based on the company's own costs/domestic prices and its export prices would lead to a reduction of dumping significantly below the level of the current measure. Therefore, the continued imposition of measures at the existing levels, which were based on the level of dumping previously established, is no longer necessary to offset dumping.

4.   Procedure for the determination of dumping

Having determined, after consulting the Advisory Committee, that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of a partial interim review, the Commission hereby initiates a review in accordance with Article 11(3) of the basic Regulation, with a view to determine whether the company operates under market economy conditions as defined in Article 2(7)(c) of the basic Regulation and, if so, to determine the company's individual margin of dumping based on their own costs/domestic prices, and should dumping be found, determine the level of the duty to which its imports of the product concerned into the Community should be subject.

The investigation will assess the need for the continuation, removal or amendment of the existing measures in respect of the company mentioned above.

(a)   Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to the company and to the authorities of the exporting country concerned. This information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 5(a)(i) of this notice.

(b)   Collection of information and holding of hearings

All interested parties are hereby invited to make their views known, submit information other than questionnaire replies and to provide supporting evidence. This information and supporting evidence must reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 5(a)(i) of this notice.

Furthermore, the Commission may hear interested parties, provided that they make a request showing that there are particular reasons why they should be heard. This request must be made within the time limit set in point 5(a)(ii) of this notice.

(c)   Market economy status

In the event that the company provides sufficient evidence showing that it operates under market economy conditions, i.e. that it meets the criteria laid down in Article 2(7)(c) of the basic Regulation, normal value will be determined in accordance with Article 2(7)(b) of the basic Regulation. For this purpose, a duly substantiated claim must be submitted within the specific time limit set in point 5(b) of this notice. The Commission will send a claim form to the company as well as to the authorities of the People's Republic of China.

5.   Time limits

(a)   General time limits

(i)   For parties to make themselves known, to submit questionnaire replies and any other information

All interested parties, if their representations are to be taken into account during the investigation, must make themselves known by contacting the Commission, present their views and submit questionnaire replies or any other information within 40 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, unless otherwise specified. Attention is drawn to the fact that the exercise of most procedural rights set out in the basic Regulation depends on the party's making itself known within the aforementioned period.

(ii)   Hearings

All interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within the same 40-day time limit.

(b)   Specific time limit for submission of claims for market economy status

The company's duly substantiated claim for market economy status, as mentioned in point 4(c) of this notice, must reach the Commission within 15 days of the date of publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

6.   Written submissions, questionnaire replies and correspondence

All submissions and requests made by interested parties must be made in writing (not in electronic format, unless otherwise specified) and must indicate the name, address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers of the interested party. All written submissions, including the information requested in this notice, questionnaire replies and correspondence provided by interested parties on a confidential basis shall be labelled as ‘Limited’ (3) and, in accordance with Article 19(2) of the basic Regulation, shall be accompanied by a non-confidential version, which will be labelled ‘FOR INSPECTION BY INTERESTED PARTIES’.

Commission address for correspondence:

7.   Non-cooperation

In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, provisional or final findings, affirmative or negative, may be made, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, on the basis of the facts available.

Where it is found that any interested party has supplied false or misleading information, the information shall be disregarded and use may be made of the facts available. If an interested party does not cooperate or cooperates only partially, and findings are therefore based on facts available in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, the result may be less favourable to that party than if it had cooperated.

8.   Schedule of the investigation

The investigation will be concluded, according to Article 11(5) of the basic Regulation within 15 months of the date of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(1)  OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 2117/2005 (OJ L 340, 23.12.2005, p. 17).

(2)  OJ L 189, 21.7.2005, p. 1.

(3)  This means that the document is for internal use only. It is protected pursuant to Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of the basic Regulation and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).