EU Imposes Dumping Duties on Saddles Imported from China

BRUSSELS, Belgium – The European Commission has imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on saddles originating in the People's Republic of China. The provisional anti-dumping rate stands at 30.9% for all saddles imported from China except for the ones from Cionlli Bicycle (Taicang) Co. Ltd., Shunde; Hongli Bicycle Parts Co. Ltd. and Safe Strong Bicycle Parts Shenzhen Co. Ltd. that have a 7.5% duty rate. Saddles from Giching Bicycle parts (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. and Velo Cycle Kunshan Co. Ltd. have no provisional dumping duty.

The Official Journal of the European Community No. L 379 of December 28, 2006 announced the duties. With this publication, the provisional anti-dumping duties of 30.9% on PRC saddles (except for the named companies) became effective and will apply for a period of six months and is directly applicable in all EU 27 member states.
The duties are the result of a dumping complaint that was lodged on 22 February, 2006 by the European Saddle Manufacturers Association (ESMA). The complaint was supported by Selle Royal and its related company Brooks England, Selle Italia with its related company Bassano Selle; Selle SMP; ABI spj; Iberoselle; Selle Montegrappa and Selle San Marco that represent 99% of the saddle production in the EU. After receiving the complaint the European Commission started an investigation that revealed: “Imports from the PRC more than quadrupled over the investigation period (IP) that ran from January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2005, i.e. they increased by 343% in terms of volume, and by 19 percentage points in terms of market share. At the same time, average prices of all exporting producers in the PRC undercut the average Community industry prices by 70,1% in the IP. The substantial increase in the volume of imports from the PRC and their gain in market share during the period considered, at prices which were only a fraction of those of the Community industry, coincided with the evident deterioration of the overall financial situation of the Community industry during the same period.”
On what kind of saddles the provisional Anti-Dumping Duty is applicable, The Official Journal of the European Community No. L 379 says: “On imports of saddles and essential parts thereof i.e., bases, cushions and covers, of bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles), not motorised, of cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor with or without sidecars, of fitness machines and of home trainers, falling within CN codes 8714 95 00, ex 8714 99 90 and ex 9506 91 10 (TARIC codes 8714 99 90 81 and 9506 91 10 10) and originating in the People's Republic of China. The publication also states: “Interested parties may request disclosure of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which this Regulation was adopted, make their views known in writing and apply to be heard orally by the Commission within one month of the date of entry into force of this Regulation.”