12. 12.91 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 321/7

The value in national currencies is as follows:

Belgian franc/Luxembourg franc 5 334 983 Danish krone 991 053 German mark 257 765 Greek drachma 25 812 398 French franc 871912 Dutch guilder 290 518 Irish pound 96 579 Italian lira 191 153 043 Pound sterling 88 802 Spanish peseta 16 220 903 Portuguese escudo 22 551 817

Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain seamless tubes and pipes, of iron or non-alloy steel, originating in Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia (91/C 321/08)

The Commission has received a complaint alleging that For Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia, the allegation imports of certain seamless tubes and pipes, of iron or of dumping is based on a comparison between export non-alloy steel, originating in Hungary, Poland, prices to the Community and prices or costs in a Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia are being dumped and reference country. The complainant suggested a thereby causing injury to the Community industry. comparison with the constructed value in Yugoslavia.

On this basis the dumping margins estimated are Complaint significant.

The complaint was lodged by the Liaison Committee of Allegation of injury the European Community, Steel Tube Industry on behalf of producers representing a majority of the Community With regard to injury, the complainants allege and production of the products in question. supply sufficient evidence that imports of the products in question originating in Hungary, Poland, Czechoslo­ vakia and Yugoslavia have increased from 44 427 tonnes Products in 1986 to 125 942 tonnes in 1990, while the available data for 1991 point to imports of 66 307 tonnes for the first five months of this year. The products allegedly being dumped are seamless pipes, of iron or non-alloy steel, of a kind used for oil or gas These volumes represent a rise in market shares for the pipelines of an external diameter not exceeding 406,4 countries concerned from 6,6 % in 1986 to 14,3 % in mm and seamless tubes, of iron or non-alloy steel, 1990 and 18,4 % in the first five months of 1991. cold-drawn or cold-rolled, other than precision tubes and tubes other than cold-drawn or cold-rolled of an external diameter not exceeding 406,4 mm, falling within The imports were mainly concentrated on the German and Italian market, where their market shares increased CN codes 7304 10 10, 7304 10 30, 7304 31 99, from 11,6 to 21,2 % and from 4,9 to 18,4 % respectively 7304 39 91 and 7304 39 93. in the period 1986 to 1990.

Allegation of dumping It is furthermore alleged that the prices at which the imports in question were sold in the Community undercut the prices of Community producers by 33 to 75 %. With regard to Yugoslavia, the allegation of dumping is based on a comparison of the constructed value (cost of production plus a reasonable profit) in Yugoslavia with The complaint alleges that despite a capacity reduction the prices charged for export to the Community. of 20 % in the last 10 years, the dumped imports made it No C 321/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 12.91

impossible for the Community producers to avoid an This notice is published in accordance with Article increasing slack in capacity utilization. 7 (1) (a) of the abovementioned Regulation.

According to the complainants, the volume and the low Time limit prices of these imports forced the Community producers to align their prices downwards and to sustain Any information relating to the matter, any arguments considerable financial losses. concerning the allegation of dumping and injury resulting therefrom or other relevant arguments and any request for a hearing should be sent in writing to reach It is also suggested that a continuation of the dumping the Commission of the European Communities, Direc­ will most probably lead to price alignments by other torate-General for External Relations (Division I-C-l), exporters to the Community and will jeopardize the 200 rue de la Loi, B-1049 Brussels (2) no later than 30 reconversions already made by the European producers. days following the date of publication of this note or, for parties known to be concerned, the date on which the letter accompanying the abovementioned questionnaire Procedure was received, whichever date is the later. The receipt of this letter is deemed to occur seven days following the Having decided, after consultation, that there is date of its dispatch. sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission has commenced an investi­ Any party which has not received a questionnaire should gation pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation request such questionnaire within two weeks of the (EEC) No 2423/88 (»). present publication. All questionnaires so requested (or requested subsequent to that date) should be sent, in completed form, to the above address, no later than 45 Interested parties may make known their views in days after the publication of this notice. writing, in particular by replying to the questionnaire addressed to the parties known to be concerned and by If the required information and argumentation is not providing supporting evidence. Furthermore, the received in adequate form in the time limit specified Commission will hear parties who so request when above, the Community authorities may make preliminary making their views known, provided that they can show or final findings on the basis of the facts available in that they are likely to be affected by the result of the accordance with Article 7 (7) (b) of Regulation (EEC) proceeding. No 2423/88.

C) OJ No L 209, 2. 8. 1988, p. 1. O Telex COMEU B 21877, Telefax (32-2) 235 65 05.