The European Commission has initiated an investigation concerning the possible circumvention of the antidumping (AD) measures imposed on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners originating in China by imports of the fasteners consigned from Malaysia, whether declared as originating in Malaysia or not, and to make such imports subject to registration. The measures currently in force and possibly being circumvented are anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 91/2009.
In a statement published in the Official Journal on November 6, the Commission said that it has decided to investigate the issue on its own initiative, stating that there has been a significant change in the pattern of trade involving exports from China and Malaysia to the Union following the imposition of measures on the product concerned in 2009. This change in the pattern of trade appears to stem from the transshipment of certain iron or steel fasteners originating in China via Malaysia, undermining the antidumping measures both in terms of quantity and price, the latter pointing to dumping of the product.
The product concerned by the possible circumvention is certain iron or steel fasteners, other than of stainless steel, i.e., wood screws (excluding coach screws), self-tapping screws, other screws and bolts with heads (whether or not with their nuts or washers, but excluding screws turned from bars, rods, profiles or wire, of solid section, of a shank thickness not exceeding 6 mm and excluding screws and bolts for fixing railway track construction material), and washers, originating in the People's Republic of China, falling within CN codes 7318 12 90, 7318 14 91, 7318 14 99, 7318 15 59, 7318 15 69, 7318 15 81, 7318 15 89, ex 7318 15 90, ex 7318 21 00 and ex 7318 22 00.
The investigation will be concluded, according to Article 13(3) of the basic regulation, within nine months of the date of the publication of this notice in the Official Journal.