16.9.2003 Official Journal of the European Union L 230/9 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 1611/2003 of 15 September 2003 imposing provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of certain stainless steel cold-rolled flat products 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 Community ('), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1972/2002 (3, and in parti- cular Article 7 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE 1. Present investigation Initiation (1)  On 4 November 2002 a complaint was lodged by the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (Eurofer), on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 80 %, of the Commu- nity production of certain stainless steel cold-rolled flat products. The complaint contained evidence of dumping of the said product and of material injury resulting there- from, which was considered sufficient to justify the initiation of a proceeding. (2) Consequently, on 17 December 2002, 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 stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in the United States of America (hereinafter, the USA). Investigation (3)  The Commission officially advised the exporting produ- cers, the importers and the users known to be concerned, as well as the representatives of the exporting country concerned and the complainant Community producers, about the initiation of the proceeding. Inter- ested 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. (4)  The Commission sent questionnaires to all Community producers, all exporters/producers, all importers and all users and providers of raw materials known to be OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. () OJ L 305,7.11.2002, p. 1. () O] C 314,17.12.2002, p. 3. concerned, as well as to all parties which made them- selves known within the deadline set out in the notice of initiation. Replies to these questionnaires were received from six Community producers, one exporting producer, six related importers and seven users of certain stainless steel cold-rolled flat products. No unrelated importer or provider of raw materials replied to the questionnaire. The Commission sought and verified all the information deemed necessary for the purpose of a provisional deter- mination of dumping, injury and Community interest. Verification visits were carried out at the premises of the following companies: — Community producers — Ugine, SA, France — ThyssenKrupp, Acciai Speciali Terni, SpA, Italy — ThyssenKrupp Nirosta GmbH, Germany — exporting producers — AK Steel Corporation, Middletown, Ohio, United States of America — related importers — AK Steel Limited, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002 (‘the investigation period’ or ‘the IP"). As for the trends rele- vant for the assessment of injury, the Commission analysed the period from 1999 to the end of the investi- gation period (‘the period considered). Upon initiation, the Commission advised all parties that, since initiation took place just before the end of the calendar year, it was more appropriate to select an inves- tigation period coinciding with the calendar year, rather than the 12 months immediately prior to initiation, thus facilitating both the reporting by companies and the verification by the Commission. No party objected to this decision. 2. Product concerned and like product General Cold-rolled flat products of ferritic stainless steels are manufactured in stainless steel plants according to the following process: — melting of raw materials in electric furnace,