The European Commission (EC) has announced the receipt of a complaint against imports from countries that are not members of the European Community, alleging that imports of steel hollow sections, originating in Belarus, Turkey and Ukraine are being dumped and are thereby causing material injury to the EU industry.
The complaint was lodged on 29 September, 2008 by the Defense Committee of the Welded Steel Tubes Industry of the European Union on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 25 percent, of the total EU production of the subject product under CN codes 7306 61 92 and 7306 61 99.
According to the announcement in the EU's official journal, the complainant has provided evidence that imports of the product concerned from Belarus, Turkey and Ukraine have increased overall in absolute terms and in terms of market share.
It is alleged that the volumes and the prices of the imported product concerned have had a negative impact on the market share held and the level of prices charged by the EU industry, resulting in substantial adverse effects on the financial and employment situation of the EU industry.
Therefore, having determined after consulting the EU advisory committee, the EC has determined to initiate an investigation into imports of the subject products from the countries in question for the period between October 1, 2007 and September 30, 2008.
The investigation will be concluded within 15 months of the date of the publication of this notice in the EU's official journal and provisional measures may be imposed no later than nine months from the publication of this notice in the official journal.