19. 4. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 98/3 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 703/96 of 18 April 1996 initiating an investigation concerning the circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 on imports of bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China by assembly operations in the European Community THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 384/96 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the BEuropean Com- munity (*), and in particular Articles 13 and 14 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. REQUEST (1)  The Commission has received a request pursuant to Article 13 (3) of Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (here- inafter ‘the Basic Regulation’) to investigate the alleged circumvention of the anti-dumping duties imposed by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2474/93 of 8 September 1993 (%) on imports of bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China by imports of parts originating in that country which are subsequently used in the assembly of bicycles in the Community; to make the imports of these parts subject to registration by the customs authori- ties pursuant to Article 14 (5) of the Basic Regula- tion and to extend where justified the above anti- dumping duties to the latter imports. B. APPLICANT (2)  The request has been lodged by the European Bicycle Manufacturers’ Association on 7 March 1996, on behalf of the Community industry. C. PRODUCT (3)  The products through which the alleged circum- vention is taking place are bicycle parts and acces- sories originating in the People’s Republic of China which are used in the assembly of bicycles in the () OJ No L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. () O] No L 228, 9. 9. 1993, p. 1. ) ) European Community. These products are currently classifiable within the CN codes ranging from 87149110 to 871499 90. These codes are given for information only and have no binding effect on the classification of the product. D. REGISTRATION In view of the great variety and large number of bicycle parts, registration of imports should be limited to the main parts used in bicycle assembly operations, namely bicycle frames, forks, rims and hubs falling within CN codes 871491 10, 87149130, 87145210 and 87149310 respect- ively. E. EVIDENCE The request contains sufficient evidence to satisfy the requirements of Article 13 (1) of the Basic Regulation that the anti-dumping duties on imports of bicycles originating in the People’s Republic of China are being circumvented by imports of bicycle parts originating in that country used in assembly operations in the Community. The evidence is as follows: (2) Since the initiation of the original anti- dumping investigation on 12 October 1991 a clear change has taken place in the pattern of trade between the country concerned and Community. Between 1992 and 1995 imports of bicycles from the People’s Republic of China into three Member States which represent the major part of the trade concerned in the Community have decreased by more than 96 %, whereas corresponding imports of bicycle frames in the same period have increased by more than 200 %. This change in the pattern of trade is alleged to stem from an increase in the assembly opera- tions in the Community for which there is insufficient due cause or economic justification, apart from the existence of the anti-dumping duties. The most obvious cause of the above-