MOFCOM Initiates Anti-dumping Investigation into Optical Fiber Preforms from Japan and the United States

On March 19, the Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 17 of 2014, deciding to initiate, as of that date, an anti-dumping case investigation into imported optical fiber preforms (Optical Fiber Preform or Fiber Preform) originating from Japan and the United States.

In accordance with the provisions of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce will, as of that date, investigate the dumping, the dumping margin of the above-mentioned imported products originating from Japan and the United States, as well as the injury and the degree of injury caused to China's domestic industry producing like products. This investigation commenced on March 19, 2014, and shall normally be concluded before March 19, 2015, and may be extended to September 19, 2015 under special circumstances.

This investigation was initiated upon the application of China's domestic industry. The product under investigation is classified under the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China: 70022010.

The full text of the announcement is as follows:

【Issuing Authority】Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

【Document No.】Announcement No. 17 of 2014

【Date of Issue】2014-03-19

On January 22, 2014, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China received a formal anti-dumping investigation application submitted by Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company, Jiangsu Hengtong Optic-Electric Co., Ltd., and Futong Group Co., Ltd. on behalf of the domestic optical fiber preform industry. The applicants requested an anti-dumping investigation into imported optical fiber preforms originating from Japan and the United States.

In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce examined the qualifications of the applicants, the relevant information on the product under investigation, the relevant information on like products in China, the impact of the product under investigation on the domestic industry, and the relevant information on the countries under investigation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Commerce examined the evidence provided in the application concerning dumping, injury, and the causal relationship between dumping and injury. The preliminary evidence provided by the applicants shows that the combined output of optical fiber preforms of the applicants and the supporting applicants, Jiangsu Fasten Photonics Co., Ltd., FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd., and Zhongtian Technology Precision Materials Co., Ltd., accounted for more than 50% of the total output of like products in China during 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, which meets the requirements for the domestic industry to file an anti-dumping investigation application as stipulated in Articles 11, 13, and 17 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China. In addition, the application contains the contents and relevant evidence required for the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation as stipulated in Articles 14 and 15 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China.

Based on the above examination results and in accordance with Article 16 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Ministry of Commerce decided to initiate an anti-dumping case investigation into imported optical fiber preforms originating from Japan and the United States as of March 19, 2014. The relevant matters are hereby announced as follows:

I. Initiation of Investigation and Investigation Period

As of the date of issuance of this announcement, the Ministry of Commerce will conduct an anti-dumping investigation into imported optical fiber preforms originating from Japan and the United States. The dumping investigation period determined for this investigation is from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, and the industry injury investigation period is from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013.

II. Product under Investigation and Scope of Investigation

Scope of Investigation: Imported optical fiber preforms originating from Japan and the United States

Name of the Product under Investigation: Optical Fiber Preform, also known as Fiber Preform.

Product Description: An optical fiber preform is a quartz glass rod with a specific refractive index profile, used for manufacturing optical fibers.

Main Uses: Primarily used for manufacturing optical fibers. The optical fibers produced are used in various optical cable structures for optical signal transmission.

This product is classified under the Import and Export Tariff of the People's Republic of China: 70022010.

III. Registration for Participation in the Proceedings

With respect to the dumping investigation, any interested party may, within 20 days from the date of issuance of this announcement, apply to the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports of the Ministry of Commerce to participate in the response to the case. The involved exporters or producers participating in the response shall simultaneously provide the quantity and value of exports of the product under investigation to China from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. The "Reference Form for Registration of Response to Dumping Investigation" can be downloaded from the announcement column of the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports sub-website of the Ministry of Commerce website (http://gpj.mofcom.gov.cn).

With respect to the industry injury investigation, interested parties may register their response with the Bureau of Industry Injury Investigation of the Ministry of Commerce within 20 days from the date of issuance of this announcement, and shall simultaneously provide explanatory materials such as production capacity, output, inventory, plans for construction and expansion under construction, as well as the quantity and value of exports of the product under investigation to China during the industry injury investigation period. The "Application Form for Participation in the Industry Injury Investigation Activities of the Optical Fiber Preform Anti-dumping Case" can be downloaded from the China Trade Remedy Information website (http://www.cacs.gov.cn) under the Case and Measures - Import Investigation - Work Updates - Response Registration column.

IV. Rights of Interested Parties

Interested parties may download the non-confidential version of the application submitted by the applicants from the "Case Updates" column of the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports sub-website of the Ministry of Commerce website, or consult it at the Ministry of Commerce Trade Remedy Public Information Reading Room (Tel: 86-10-65197878).

If interested parties have any objections to the scope of products under investigation, the qualifications of the applicants, the countries under investigation, or other related issues, they may submit written opinions to the Ministry of Commerce within the above-mentioned registration period for response.

V. Investigation Methods

The investigating authority may use questionnaires, sampling, hearings, on-site verification, and other methods to obtain information from and conduct investigations on relevant interested parties.

Information regarding the industry injury investigation of this case can be found on the China Trade Remedy Information website.

VI. Questionnaires

(1) Dumping Investigation Questionnaire for the Optical Fiber Preform Anti-dumping Case.

The Ministry of Commerce will issue investigation questionnaires to the companies registered for response and other companies listed in the application within 10 working days from the deadline for registration of response stipulated in this announcement. The questionnaire includes the company's organization and operation, the product under investigation, export sales to China (Mainland), domestic (regional) sales, export sales to countries (regions) other than China (Mainland), production costs and related expenses, estimated dumping margin, and a verification checklist. The "Dumping Investigation Questionnaire for the Optical Fiber Preform Anti-dumping Case" can be downloaded from the "Case Updates" column of the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports sub-website of the Ministry of Commerce website at that time. Other companies that have not registered for response may directly download or request the questionnaire from the Ministry of Commerce and complete it as required.

All the above-mentioned companies shall submit complete and accurate responses within the specified time. The responses shall include all information required by the questionnaire. All responses shall be delivered to the Ministry of Commerce within 37 days from the date of issuance of the questionnaire. If a responding company has legitimate reasons to indicate that it cannot complete the response before the deadline, it shall submit a written application to the Ministry of Commerce for an extension of the response submission deadline 7 days prior to the submission deadline, stating the extension request and reasons.

If a responding company fails to submit a response within the specified period, or fails to provide complete and accurate responses as required, or does not permit the Ministry of Commerce to verify the information provided, or otherwise seriously impedes the investigation, the Ministry of Commerce may, in accordance with Article 21 of the Anti-dumping Regulations of the People's Republic of China, make determinations based on the facts available and the best information available.

(2) Industry Injury Investigation Questionnaire for the Optical Fiber Preform Anti-dumping Case.

Relevant notices regarding the industry injury investigation questionnaire can be found on the China Trade Remedy Information website.

VII. This investigation commenced on March 19, 2014, and shall normally be concluded before March 19, 2015, and may be extended to September 19, 2015 under special circumstances.

VIII. Contact Address of the Ministry of Commerce

No. 2 Dong Chang'an Avenue, Beijing, Postal Code: 100731

Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports, Ministry of Commerce

Tel: 86-10-65198196, 65198747

Fax: 86-10-65198164

Bureau of Industry Injury Investigation, Ministry of Commerce

Tel: 86-10-65198184, 65198070

Fax: 86-10-65197583