The European Commission said Saturday it had launched
anti-dumping investigations into candles and certain steel products
imported from China.
Several European candle producers, including Germany's EIKA and
the Netherlands' Bolsius, lodged a complaint to the commission on
Jan. 3, alleging Chinese candles flooded the EU market and had a
negative impact on the European industry.
"Having determined ... that the complaint has been lodged by or
on behalf of the Community industry and that there is sufficient
evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the commission
hereby initiates an investigation," the EU's executive arm said in
its official journal.
The commission also announced the launch of an anti-dumping
investigation into certain pre- and post-stressing wires and wire
strands of non-alloy steel imported from China, upon a complaint
lodged by Eurostress Information Service on behalf of European
producers.
In the past two months, the European Commission already opened
two anti-dumping investigations into Chinese steel, with one
targeting certain hot-dipped metallic-coated iron or steel
flat-rolled products and the other concerning stainless steel cold
rolled flat products.
Both complaints were raised by the European Confederation of
Iron and Steel Industries (Eurofer), a Brussels-based industry body
representing major EU steel producers such as ArcelorMittal and
ThyssenKrupp.
A third complaint by Eurofer against Chinese wire rod has not
been decided by the commission.
European retailers such as Sweden's Ikea fear an increase in the
price of candles, which they import in large volumes from
China.
The commission's move on Chinese steel was also opposed by the
EU steel-consuming industries, such as engineering and
shipbuilding.
The EU anti-dumping investigation normally takes no more than a
year, and in any case must be completed within 15 months, after
which the EU governments have the final say on whether to impose
definite anti-dumping duties for five years.
However, during the investigation period, the commission may,
within 60 days to nine months, impose provisional duties, which may
last for six to nine months.
Under EU rules, before taking provisional anti-dumping measures,
the commission must consult its member states, which are set to be
divided on the issue.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2008)
