Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain iron or steel ropes and cables originating in Russia

(2004/C 202/04)

The Commission has received two requests for a partial interim review pursuant to Article 11(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (1) (the basic Regulation).

1.   Request for review

The requests were lodged by Open Joint Stock Company Cherepovetsky Staleprokatny Zavod (ChSPZ) and Joint Stock Company Beloretsk Iron & Steel Works (BMK), both exporters from Russia.

The requests are limited in scope to the examination of dumping as far as ChSPZ and BMK are concerned.

2.   Product

The product under review is iron or steel ropes and cables, including locked coil ropes, excluding ropes and cables of stainless steel, with a maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeding 3 mm, with fittings attached or not originating in Russia (the product concerned), normally declared within CN codes 7312 10 82, 7312 10 84, 7312 10 86, 7312 10 88 and 7312 10 99. These CN codes are given only for information.

3.   Existing measures

The measures currently in force are definitive anti-dumping duties imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 1601/2001 (2) on imports of certain iron or steel ropes and cables originating in Russia.

4.   Grounds for the review

The requests pursuant to Article 11(3) are based on the prima facie evidence, provided by ChSPZ and BMK, that, as far as they are concerned, the circumstances on the basis of which measures were established have changed and that these changes are of a lasting nature.

ChSPZ and BMK allege and provide evidence showing that a comparision of normal value based on their own costs and prices and their export prices to the EU, would lead to a reduction of dumping significantly below the level of the current measures. 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.

5.   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 limited in scope to the examination of dumping as far as ChSPZ and BMK are concerned.

The investigation will assess the need for the continuation, removal or amendment of the existing measures in respect of ChSPZ and BMK.

(a)   Questionnaires

In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission will send questionnaires to ChSPZ, to BMK and to the Russian authorities. This information and supporting evidence should reach the Commission within the time limit set in point 6(a) 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 paragraph 6(a) 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 paragraph 6(b) of this notice.

6.   Time limits

(a)   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.

(b)   Hearings

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

7.   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, and/or telex 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:

8.   Non-cooperation

In cases in which any interested party refuses access to or otherwise does not provide the necessary information within the time limits, or significantly impedes the investigation, 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, in accordance with Article 18 of the basic Regulation, 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.

(1)  OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (OJ L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12).

(2)  OJ L 211, 4.8.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/2003 (OJ L 180, 18.7.2003, p. 23).

(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 (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43). It is a confidential document pursuant to Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1) and Article 6 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (Anti-dumping Agreement).