John Bruton (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Question No. 125 on 18 May 2004, if she has considered following France's lead and calling on the European Commission to consider measures including a temporary suspension of its anti-dumping duties on steel to stem rising production costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16436/04]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The European Commission has competence in this area. In relation to the possibility of a temporary suspension of anti-dumping measures on steel, anti-dumping measures are currently in force in relation to a range of steel products, for example, steel wire, cables, pipes and tubes etc. The basic anti-dumping regulations provide for temporary suspension, initially for nine months, of measures by the Commission on the grounds that market conditions have temporarily changed to the extent that injury to the community industry would be unlikely to resume as a result of the suspension. In the event of suspension being proposed, community industry is given the opportunity to comment and any comments are taken into account in considering the matter.

Recently, restrictions on supplies of Chinese coke, a raw material ingredient in the production of steel, have been of serious concern to the European steel industry. However, agreement has just been reached between the EU Commission and the Chinese authorities to provide necessary supplies during 2004. Negotiations are continuing between the two sides on future trade.