Sampling of Union producers
(13) In the Notice of Initiation, the Commission stated that it had provisionally selected a sample of Union producers. In accordance with Article 27 of the basic Regulation, the Commission selected the sample on the basis of the largest volume of production of the like product in the Union during the review investigation period that could reasonably be investigated within the time available. This sample consisted of three Union producers. The sampled Union producers accounted for around 29 % of estimated total production in the Union. The Commission invited interested parties to comment on the provisional sample. No comments were received and the Commission confirmed the provisionally selected sample. The sample is representative of the Union industry.
1.7.2.
Sampling of importers
(14) To decide whether sampling was necessary and, if so, to select a sample, the Commission asked known unrelated importers to provide the information specified in the Notice of Initiation. No unrelated importer came forward and provided the requested information.
1.7.3.
Sampling of exporting producers in the PRC
(15) To decide whether sampling was necessary with regard to the exporting producers and, if so, to select a sample, the Commission asked all known producers in the PRC to provide the information specified in the Notice of Initiation. In addition, the Commission asked the Mission of the PRC to the European Union to identify and/or contact other producers, if any, that could be interested in participating in the investigation. None of the producers in the PRC provided the requested information.
(16) Consequently, the Commission informed the authorities of the PRC by Note Verbale of 2 September 2022, that it might resort to the use of facts available under Article 28(1) of the basic Regulation when examining the continuation or recurrence of subsidisation. The authorities of the PRC did not react to the Note.
1.8.
Questionnaire and verification
(17) The Commission sent questionnaires to the three sampled Union producers, the applicant and the GOC. Replies to the questionnaires were received from the three sampled Union producers and the applicant.
(18) The Commission verified all the information it deemed necessary for a determination of the likelihood of a continuation or recurrence of subsidisation and injury, and of the Union interest test. Verification visits were carried out at the premises of the following interested parties:
Union producers:
— Arcelor Mittal Poland (Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland)
— Tata Steel Ijmuiden (IJmuiden, The Netherlands)
— ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG (Duisburg, Germany) and its related company ThyssenKrupp Material Processing (Krefeld, Germany).
1.9.
Disclosure
Feedback