(1)

On 3 May 2019, the European Commission initiated an anti-dumping investigation with regard to imports into the European Union of continuous filament glass fibre products (‘GFR’) originating in Bahrain and Egypt (the ‘countries concerned’) pursuant to Article 5 of the basic Regulation. It published a Notice of Initiation in the Official Journal of the European Union (2) (the ‘Notice of Initiation’).

(2)

The Commission initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged on 21 March 2019 by the European Glass Fibre Producers Association (‘the complainant’ or ‘APFE’) on behalf of producers representing more than 25 % of total Union production. Producers representing 71 % of the total Union production of continuous filament glass fibre products supported the complaint.

(3)

The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 (the ‘investigation period’ or the ‘IP’). The examination of trends relevant for the assessment of injury covered the period from 1 January 2016 to the end of the investigation period (the ‘period considered’).

(4)

In the Notice of Initiation, interested parties were invited to contact the Commission in order to participate in the investigation. In addition, the Commission specifically informed the complainant, other known Union producers, the known exporting producers, the known importers, suppliers and users, traders, as well as associations known to be concerned about the initiation of the investigation and invited them to participate.

(5)

Interested parties had an opportunity to comment on the initiation of the investigation and to request a hearing with the Commission and/or the Hearing Officer in trade proceedings.

(6)

In its Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it might sample interested parties in accordance with Article 17 of the basic Regulation.

(7)

In its Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it had provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. The Commission selected the sample on the basis of the highest representative quantity of production which could reasonably be investigated within the time available.

(8)

No comments on the sample selection were received.

(9)

To decide whether sampling was necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the Commission asked unrelated importers to provide the information specified in the Notice of Initiation.

(10)

Given that only two unrelated importers provided completed sampling forms, sampling was not applied.

(11)

The Commission did not resort to sampling in relation to exporting producers in Bahrain and Egypt as there is only one exporting producer in each country.

(12)

The Commission sent questionnaires to the two exporting producers, to the three sampled Union producers, and to the two unrelated importers. A questionnaire was provided for users to complete, if they so wished, rather than making a submission.

(13)

The Commission received questionnaire replies from both exporting producers, all sampled Union producers and both unrelated importers. The Commission also received questionnaire replies from two users.

(14)

The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for a determination of dumping, resulting injury and Union interest.

(15)

The methodology and correctness of the data gathered by the complainants for the purposes of the macroeconomic indicators was subject to a verification visit under Article 16 of the basic Regulation carried out at the premises of the lawyers of the complainants.

(16)

Verification visits under Article 16 of the basic Regulation were carried out at the premises of the following companies:

(17)

The product subject to this investigation is chopped glass fibre strands, of a length of not more than 50 mm (‘chopped strands’); glass fibre rovings, excluding glass fibre rovings which are impregnated and coated and have a loss on ignition of more than 3 % (as determined by the ISO Standard 1887) (‘rovings’); and mats made of glass fibre filaments excluding mats of glass wool (‘mats’), (‘the product under investigation’). The product under investigation is known as ‘glass fibre reinforcements’ or ‘GFR’.

(18)

The product concerned is the product under investigation originating in Bahrain and Egypt.

(19)

The product concerned is currently falling under CN codes 7019 11 00, ex 7019 12 00, 7019 31 00 (TARIC codes 7019120022, 7019120025, 7019120026 and 7019120039).

(20)

The investigation showed that the following products have the same basic physical, chemical, and technical characteristics as well as the same basic uses:

(21)

The Commission decided that, for the purpose of this investigation, those products are therefore like products within the meaning of Article 2(c) of the basic Regulation.

(22)

In its letter to the Commission of 19 March 2020 the complainant withdrew its complaint.

(23)

In accordance with Article 9(1) of the basic Regulation, when the complainant withdraws its complaint, the proceeding may be terminated unless such termination would not be in the Union interest.

(24)

The Commission considered that the anti-dumping proceeding should be terminated since the investigation had not brought to light any considerations demonstrating that such termination would not be in the Union interest.

(25)

Interested parties were informed accordingly and were given an opportunity to comment. The Commission received no comments which would lead to the conclusion that such termination would not be in the Union interest.

(26)

The Commission therefore concludes that the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports into the Union of GFR originating in Bahrain and Egypt should be terminated.

(27)

This Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 15(1) of the basic Regulation,