19. 3. 98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 82/25 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 617/98 of 18 March 1998 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of polysulphide polymers originating in the United States of America 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 European Com- munity ('), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2331/96 (), and in particular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: ) A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation In June 1997, the Commission announced by a notice (hereinafter referred to as ‘notice of initia- tion’) published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(°) the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of polysulphide polymers originating in the United States of America and commenced an investigation. The proceeding was initiated as a result of a complaint lodged in May 1997 by Akcros Chem- icals GmbH & Co KG, Germany (hereinafter referred to as ‘Akcros’), the sole Community producer of polysulphide polymers. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting therefrom, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. 2. Investigation The Commission officially advised the exporting producer and importers known to be concerned, the representatives of the exporting country and the Community producer, of the initiation of the proceeding. The parties directly concerned were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set in the notice of initiation. The exporting producer in the country concerned, as well as the Community producer, Community users and importers made their views known in writing. The exporting producer requested a hearing, which was granted. The Commission sent questionnaires to all parties known to be concerned and received replies from the Community producer, from the exporting producer in the USA and from its two related importers in the Community. The Commission also received replies from five users in the Com- munity, three of which were considered sufficiently complete so that they could be used for the assess- ment of Community interest. The Commission sought and verified all the in- formation it deemed necessary for the purpose of a preliminary determination of dumping, injury and Community interest, and carried out verification visits at the premises of the following companies: (a) Community producer — Akcros Chemicals GmbH & Co. KG, Greiz-Dolau, Germany. (b) Producer/exporter in the exporting country — Morton International Inc., Chigaco, United States of America (hereinafter referred to as ‘Morton’). (c) Related importers in the Community — Morton International GmbH, Mannheim, Germany, — Morton International Limited, Hounslow, United Kingdom. The investigation of dumping covered the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the investigation period’). The exam- ination of injury and Community interest covered the period 1 January 1994 up to the end of the investigation period (hereinafter referred to as ‘the period examined)). B. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND LIKE PRODUCT 1. Product under consideration The product under consideration is polysulphide polymers (hereinafter referred to as ‘PSP’). It falls within CN code ex 4002 99 90. PSP is a synthetic rubber also called ‘thioplast’ by the Community industry or ‘thiokol’ by the ex- porting producer. PSP is a saturated synthetic () OJ L 56, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. () OJ L 317, 6. 12. 1996, p. 1. () OJ C 187, 19. 6. 1997, p. 4.