The European Commission (EC) has announced that the antidumping (AD) proceeding concerning imports of welded tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of square or rectangular cross-section, of iron other than cast iron or steel other than stainless (hollow sections), but excluding line pipe of a kind used for oil or gas pipelines and casing and tubing of a kind used in drilling for oil or gas, originating in Belarus, Turkey and Ukraine, normally declared within CN codes 7306 61 92 and 7306 61 99, is terminated.
On November 13, 2008, the European Commission (EC) initiated the antidumping proceeding with regard to imports of welded tubes, pipes and hollow section, originating in Belarus, Turkey and Ukraine. The proceeding was initiated following a complaint lodged on September 29, 2008 by the Defence Committee of the Welded Steel Tubes Industry of the European Union. The complaint contained prima facie evidence of dumping of hollow sections originating in the countries concerned and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008.
By a letter dated June 3, 2009 addressed to the EC, the complainant formally withdrew its complaint. According to the complainant, this withdrawal was prompted by the fact that the current market situation for the EC industry differs significantly from the market situation in which the complaint was filed, given that the real and apparent demand has recently collapsed in the EU and this has also led to a decline in imports. In view of these changes in the market situation, the complainant does not want to pursue its current case which was based on an analysis of historic data that no longer fully reflect the current market conditions. The complainant also argued that, should the import volumes surge again, these imports could in the prevailing circumstances cast the viability of the EC industry into doubt.
In this respect it is noted that the analysis of the current situation with respect to the product concerned and any possible new investigation in the future do not put into question the complainant's action to withdraw. Therefore, the EC considered that the present proceeding should be terminated since the investigation had not brought to light any consideration showing that such termination would not be in the Community interest. Interested parties were informed accordingly and were given the opportunity to comment. However, no comments which could alter this decision were received. The EC therefore concludes that the antidumping proceeding concerning imports into the Community of welded tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of square or rectangular cross-section, of iron other than cast iron or steel other than stainless originating in Belarus, Turkey and Ukraine should be terminated without the imposition of antidumping measures.