New Delhi, the 16th January, 1998

Subject :—Initiation of anti dumping investigation concerning import of Industrial Sewing Machine Needles originating from Germany, Japan, Korea RP, China and Czech Republic.

No 23/1/97-ADD,— M/s Altek Lammertz Needles Limited filed a petition, in accordance with the Customs Tariff (Amendment) Act, 1995 and Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of And Dumping Duty on Dumped Articles and for Determination of Injury) Rules, 1995 before the Designated Authority (hereinafter also referred to as the Authority) alleging dumping of Industrial Sewing Machine Needles from Germany, Japan, Korea RP, China and Czech Republic (hereinafter also referred to as the said countries) and requested for investigations and levy of anti dumping duties

1. Domestic Industry : Petition has been filed by M/s. Altek Lammertz Needles Ltd., 86-b, San Thome High Road, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai 600028. Since the petitioner is the sole manufacturer of Industrial Sewing Machine Needles in India it represents the domestic industry as a whole and has the standing to file the petition.

2. Product Under Consideration: The products involved in the present investigation are Industrial Sewing Machine Needles. These are mainly used for sewing textiles and leather goods. The products under Consideration are classified under Customs Tariff H.S. Code 8452.30. The classification is, however, only indicative and in no way binding on the scope of the present investigations.

3. Countries Involved: The countries involved in the present investigation are Germany, Japan, Republic of Korea China and Czech Republic.

4. Like Goods: The petitioner has claimed that the process of manufacturing Industrial Sewing Machine Needles, Ac system and sizes of the product under consideration are identical to the product manufactured by the domestic industry. These products are being used interchangeably and have characteristics closely resembling each other. Goods manufactured by [he subject company can, therefore, be treated as like articles to the goods imported from Germany, Japan, Korea RP, China and Czech Republic, within the meaning of the Rules.

 5. Normal Value: In respect of Germany, the petitioner has furnished evidence with respect to one of the exporters having two sets of price list one for dealers in home country and another for those customers outside the country. In respect of Japan, the petitioner has submitted a copy of price list issued by one of the exporters. In respect of Korea RP, China and Czech Republic the petitioner has relied upon the constructed cost of production in the absence of the price list.

6. Export Price : The petitioner has claimed export price on the basis of data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics (DGCIS), Calcutta, for the period (April-November 96). Since these prices are CIF, the petitioners have claimed adjustments for ocean freight, insurance, clearance etc., for working out ex-factory price.

7. Dumping Margin: There is sufficient prima facie evidence that export price to India has been lower than the normal value in the said countries the product under consideration indicating that the same are being dumped by the exporters from Germany, Japan, Korea RP, China and Czech Republic.

8. Injury : Various economic parameters such as market share, production, capacity utilisation and financial losses to the domestic industry collectively and cumulatively indicate that domestic Industry has suffered material injury.

9. Initiation of Anti-Dumping Investigation : The authority, therefore, initiates anti-dumping investigations into the existence, degree and effect of alleged dumping of the subject goods originating in or exported from the said countries.

10. Period of Investigation : The period of investigation for the purpose of present investigation is 1^st April, 1996 to 31^st March, 1997.

11. Submission of Information : The exporters in the said countries and importers in India known to be concerned are being addressed separately to submit relevant information in the form and manner prescribed and make their views known to Smt. Rathi Vinay Jha, Designated Authority and Additional Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce, Anti Dumping Division, Udyog Bhavan, New Delhi-110011, any other interested party may also make its submissions relevant to the investigation in the prescribed form and manner within the time limit set out below.

12. Inspection of Public File: In terms of Rule 6(7), any interested party may inspect the public file containing non-confidential versions of the evidence submitted by other interested parties.

 13. Time Limit: Any information relating to the present investigation should be sent in writing so as to reach the Authority at the address mentioned above not later than forty days from the date of publication of this notification. The known exporters and importers, who are being addressed separately, are however, required to submit the information within forty days from the date of letter addressed to them separately.

14. In case where an interested party refuses access to, or otherwise does not provide necessary information within a reasonable period, or significantly impedes the investigation, or the information is incomplete in any respect, the Authority may record its findings on the basis of the fact available to it and make such recommendations to the Central Government as deemed fit.

RATHI VINAY JHA,
Designated Authority