52003PC0162

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION Amending Council Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

By its Judgment of 21 November 2002 in case T-88/98 [1], the Court of First Instance of the European Communities annulled Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 of 16 February 1998 [2] imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating, inter alia, in India insofar as it imposes an anti-dumping duty on imports of the product manufactured by Kundan Industries Limited and exported by Tata International Limited exceeding 45.4%. The rate of duty imposed was 47.4%. The 2% difference in duty corresponds to an adjustment for commission which was made on all export transactions for the companies concerned, which was not considered justified by the Court and therefore annulled.

[1] Kundan Industries Limited and Tata International Limited v. Council of the European Union, OJ C 19, 25.1.2003, p. 27, Judgment not yet reported.

[2] Council Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 of 16 February 1998 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.

According to Article 233 of the European Communities Treaty, the Community institutions have an obligation to implement the Judgments of the Courts. The Commission should therefore propose that the Council amend Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 by reducing the anti-dumping duty from 47.4% to 45.4% on imports to the European Community of stainless steel fasteners and parts manufactured and exported by the above-mentioned companies.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION Amending Council Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 133 and 233 thereof,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) N° 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from the countries not members of the European Community [3].

[3] OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1 Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) n° 1972/2002, OJ L 305, 7.11.2002, p. 1.

Whereas:

A. EXISTING MEASURES

(1) The Council, by Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 [4], imposed a definitive duty on imports of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof originating in the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand falling within CN codes 7318 12 10, 7318 14 10, 7318 15 30, 7318 15 51, 7318 15 61, 7318 15 70 and 7318 16 30.

[4] OJ L 50, 20.2.1998, p. 1, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2570/2000 (OJ L 297, 24.11.2000, p.1).

B. SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE

(2) Following the imposition of these definitive anti-dumping measures, the Indian companies Kundan Industries Limited and Tata International Limited, whose exports were subject to a definitive anti-dumping duty of 47.4%, lodged an application for the annulment of Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 393/98 before the Court of First Instance of the European Communities. This application was entered in the Register of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities on 7 June 1998 as Case T-88/98 [5].

[5] N° 106530, Roll N° T-88/98.

(3) By its Judgment of 21 November 2002 [6], the Court of First Instance of the European Communities annulled Article 1 of Council Regulation (EC) N° 393/98 insofar as it imposes a definitive anti-dumping duty on exports to the European Community of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof manufactured by Kundan Industries Limited and exported by Tata International Limited which exceeds that which would apply but for the adjustment to the export price made in respect of a commission. Since the original duty of 47.4% was based on a dumping margin which included an adjustment of 2% in respect of a commission, the anti-dumping duty is therefore annulled to the extent that it exceeds 45.4%.

[6] OJ C 19, 25.1.2003, p. 27; not yet reported.

(4) Consequently, in accordance with Article 233 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, it is appropriate to amend the rate of duty established for Kundan Industries Limited and Tata International Limited in Article 1 of Regulation (EC) No 393/98 with retroactive effect. Amounts of anti-dumping duty paid in excess of a duty rate of 45.4% on exports of stainless steel fasteners and parts thereof manufactured by Kundan Industries Limited and exported by Tata International to the European Community should be reimbursed.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In the table in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) N°393/98, the entry for Kundan Industries Ltd and Tata International Ltd is replaced by:

>TABLE POSITION>

Article 2

The amounts collected in excess of the rate of anti-dumping duty specified in Article 1 shall be reimbursed. The requests for reimbursement shall be submitted to the customs authorities of the Member State of the territory in which the products were released for free circulation.

Article 3

This Regulation shall enter into force on third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 1 shall apply with effect from 21 February 1998.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President