The EU will repeal "anti-dumping" duties of up to 20 percent against Taiwanese thermoplastic-rubber exporters including Chi Mei Corp (奇美實業), exposing European producers such as Total SA to more competition.
The EU will also reject a demand by European makers of the chemical product -- used for road asphalt, roofing, shoes and adhesives -- for similar tariffs against South Korean and Russian exporters including Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co and OAO Gaz-prom unit Sibur.
Fairly priced styrene-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic rubber from the three nations and a 7 percent fall in European demand for the product rather than dumping caused European industry's share of its home market to drop to 82 percent in the 12 months to March 31 last year, from 89 percent in 2000, the EU said.
European producers "faced more intense competition, at fair prices, from imports," the EU said in the ruling due to take effect after publication in the Official Journal in the coming days. "It was also found that the decrease in consumption in the EU contributed to the injury."
The anti-dumping duties against Taiwan include a 9.1 percent levy against Chi Mei, a 5.3 percent tariff against Lee Chang Yung Chemical Industry Corp (李長榮化學工業) and a 20 percent duty against other Taiwanese exporters of the product. The EU imposed the tariffs for five years on Sept. 23, 2000.
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