L56/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 27.2.2002 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 358/2002 of 26 February 2002 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain tube and pipe fittings, of iron or steel originating in the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Russia, the Republic of Korea and Slovakia and accepting an undertaking offered by an exporting producer in Slovakia 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 Community (), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2238/2000 (3, and in partic- ular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Proceedings concerning other countries (1) By Regulation (EC) No 584/96 (}), as amended by Regu- lation (EC) No 1592/2000 (%), the Council imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain tube or pipe-fittings, of iron or steel, originating in the People's Republic of China (‘China’), Croatia and Thai- land. The measures applying to these imports consisted of a specific duty, except for three Thai exporting produ- cers from which undertakings were accepted by Commission Decision 96/252/EC (). In July 2000, the anti-dumping measure applicable to the imports of one of these three companies was repealed, following an interim review requested by this company, pursuant to Article 11(3) Regulation (EC) No 384/96 (the ‘basic Regulation) and which showed the absence of dumping (). (2)  Following the publication, in September 2000, of a notice () of the impending expiry of the anti-dumping measures in force, the Commission received a request for an expiry review lodged by the Defence Committee of EU Steel Butt-welding Fittings Industry, on behalf of producers representing a major proportion of the total Community production of certain tube or pipe-fittings of iron or steel. An examination relating to these meas- ures was initiated in April 2001 (¥). L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. L 257, 11.10.2000, p. 2. L 84, 3.41996, p. 1. L 182, 21.7.2000, p. 1. L 84, 3.4.1996, p. 46. mmission Decision 2000/453/EC (O] L 182, 21.7.2000, p. 25). C 271, 22.9.2000, p. 4. L 103, 3.4.2001, p. 5. oe 999999 2. Present investigation Initiation On 17 April 2001 a complaint was lodged by the Defence Committee of EU Steel Butt-welding Fittings Industry (the complainant’), on behalf of producers representing a major proportion of certain tube and pipe fittings. 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. Consequently, on 1 June 2001, the Commission announced by a notice (notice of initiation’) published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (°) the initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding with regard to imports into the Community of certain tube and pipe fittings, of iron or steel originating in the Czech Republic, Malaysia, Russia, the Republic of Korea and Slovakia (‘the countries concerned’). Investigation The Commission officially advised the exporting produ- cers, importers[traders, users and associations of users known to be concerned, as well as the representatives of the exporting countries concerned and the Community producers of the initiation of the proceeding. 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. The Commission sent questionnaires to the Community producers, all exporters/producers, all importers/traders as well as all users known to be concerned as well as to all parties which made themselves known within the deadline set out in the notice of initiation. Replies to these questionnaires were received from four Community producers and six exporting producers, as well as from nine importers, two user organisations and seven users. The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for the purpose of a provisional deter- mination of dumping, injury, causation and Community interest. Verification visits were carried out at the prem- ises of the following companies: () O] C 159, 1.6.2001, p. 4.