The following article gives a summary of decrees by the Council of Ministers and communiqués by the Ministry of Economy regarding prevention of unfair competition in imports, made between 26 August 2015 and 11 September 2015.
Provisional Measure Imposed on Hot and Flat-Rolled Steel Products
Ereğli Demir Çelik T.A.Ş., Tosçelik Profil ve Sac Endüstrisi A.Ş. and Çolakoğlu Metalurji A.Ş. requested a dumping investigation be initiated into “hot and flat-rolled steel products not exceeding 10 mm and containing by weight 0.6% or less of carbon” and “hot and flat-rolled steel products of other alloy, except tool and high-speed steel” imported from People’s Republic of China, France, Japan, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia and Ukraine and classified under tariff codes 7208.37.00.90.11, 7208.37.00.90.19, 7208.38.00.90.11, 7208.38.00.90.19, 7208.39.00.90.11, 7208.39.00.90.19 and 7225.30.90.00.00. The request was made on the grounds that the goods are dumped and importation of such goods damages domestic production. The request was supported by ve İskenderun Demir ve Çelik A.Ş. and HABAŞ. Accordingly, an investigation has been initiated under the Communiqué on Unfair Competition Prevention in Imports numbered 2015/1, published in Official Gazette number 29250 on 28 January 2015.
The preliminary determination found causality between the dumping and damage during the investigation. Therefore, the provisional measures mentioned below were imposed. Provisional measures was imposed under the Communiqué on Unfair Competition Prevention in Imports number 2015/37, published in Official Gazette number 29459 on 28 August 2015.
Additionally, goods classified under tariff code numbered 7225.30.90.00.00 and imported for use within the scope of Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) are exempt from the provisional measures.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
Investigation Launched Into Paper Completed Without Imposing Safeguard Measures
A safeguard measure investigation has been initiated under the Communiqué on Unfair Competition Prevention in Imports number 2014/8, published in Official Gazette number 29037 on 21 June 2014 in relation to “paper” classified under tariff code 4802.55.15.10.00, 4802.55.25.10.00, 4802.55.30.10.00, 4802.55.90.10.00, 4802.56.20.20.00, 4802.56.80.10.00, 4802.57.00.10.00, 4802.58.10.10.00 and 4802.58.90.10.00. The investigation was initiated on the grounds that the quantity of imports has increased significantly and importation of such goods is damaging domestic production.
The investigation’s review and assessment determined that the imports did not meet the legislative requirements for safeguard measures to be imposed. The investigation result was announced under Communiqué on Safeguard Measures in Imports number 2015/5, published in Official Gazette number 29459 (3rd Duplicate) on 28 August 2015.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
Surveillance Application Launched Into Paper
The Communiqué on Surveillance Application in Imports number 2015/06 (“Communiqué”) determines procedures and principles related to surveillance applications launched into paper imports with the tariff codes below and which are worth less than the noted Unit Customs Value. The Communiqué was published in Official Gazette number 29459 (3rd Duplicate) on 28 August 2015 and will enter into effect on the 30th day after publication.
Qualifying goods can only be imported with a surveillance document issued by the Ministry of Economy (“Ministry”).
To obtain the surveillance document, forms attached to the Communiqué must be completed and sent to the Ministry with the following documents:
- Signatory circular.
- Power of attorney, if the declarer and importer are different.
- Proforma invoice or commercial invoice.
Surveillance documents are valid for six months. Surveillance documents must be returned to the Ministry within ten business days after expiry and cannot be transferred.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué and its annexes (only available in Turkish).
Safeguard Measure Imposed On Drawn and Blown Glass and Float Glass and Surface Ground or Polished Glass
The Communiqué on Safeguard Measure in Imports number 2015/06 (“Communiqué”) was published in Official Gazette number 29459 (3rd Duplicate) on 28 August 2015, entering into effect on the same day.
According to the Communiqué, an additional financial liability will be imposed for three years for imports of drawn and blown glass and float glass and surface ground or polished glass classified under tariff codes 70.04 and 70.05. The financial liability will be:
- US $60 per ton for the first period.
- US $55 per ton for the second period.
- US $50 per ton for the third period.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué (only available in Turkish).
Change to Surveillance Application Applied to PVC Floor Coverings
A surveillance application applied to PVC floor coverings has been changed by the Communiqué on Change on the Communiqué on Surveillance Application in Imports number 2010/5. The Communiqué was published in Official Gazette number 29459 (3rd Duplicate) on 28 August 2015 and will enter into effect on the 30th day after publication.
Please see this link for the full text of the relevant Communiqué and its annexes (only available in Turkish).
