2.7.97 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 174/53 COMMISSION DECISION of 1 July 1997 terminating the anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of certain luggage and travel goods originating in the People’s Republic of China (97/412/EC) 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 Commun- ity ('), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2331/96 (3, and in particular Articles 9, 17 (4) and 18 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: e A. PROCEDURE 1. Initiation In March 1996, the Commission received a complaint concerning alleged injurious dumping caused by imports of certain luggage and travel goods originating in the People’s Republic of China. The complaint was lodged by Cedim (Comité Européen des Industries de la Maroquinerie) on behalf of Community producers of the product in question, whose collective output was alleged to represent a major proportion of Community production of suitcases, travelling bags and sports bags. The complaint contained evidence of dumping by the imports concerned and of material injury res- ulting therefrom which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of an anti-dumping proceed- ing. The Commission, after consultation, accordingly announced by a notice published in the Official () OJ No L 6, 6. 3. 1996, p. 1. () O] No L 317, 6. 12. 199, p. 1. ®) Journal of the European Communities (*) the initi- ation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to the imports of suitcases, travelling bags and sports bags falling within CN codes ex 42021219, ex 42021299, ex 42029211 and ex 42029291 and commenced an investigation. 2. Investigation 2.1. Written submissions and bearings The Commission officially informed the exporters and importers known to be concerned, the repres- entatives of the exporting country and the com- plainant Community producers. Interested parties were given the opportunity to make their views known in writing and to request a hearing within the time limit set out in the notice of initiation. A number of producers in the country concerned as well as Community producers and importers made their views known in writing. All parties who so requested within the above time limit were granted a hearing. 2.2. Sampling of Community producers In view of the large number of Community produ- cers manufacturing the product concerned in the Community and supporting the complaint, and in conformity with Article 17 (1) of Council Regula- tion No 384/96 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Basic Regulation’), it was considered appropriate to limit the investigation to a sample of producers which could reasonably be investigated within the time available. In a first step, four Member States — France, Italy, Spain and Portugal — whose produc- tion represented a large majority of Community production of suitcases, travelling bags and sports bags were found to be representative of the whole Community market. In a second step, three produ- cers located in each of these Member States were sampled according to their size, constituting a representative spread of production and employ- ment. The sampled companies were selected from () O] No C 111, 17. 4. 1996, p. 4.