European Commission Uncertainty on Continuation of Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Saddles

The European Commission issued a notification on the expiration of anti-dumping duties on saddles made in the People's Republic of China in June 2012. These anti-dumping duties were implemented in June 2007 after a complaint was lodged by the European Saddle Manufacturers Association (ESMA).

The complaint was supported by Selle Royal and its related company Brooks England, Selle Italia with its related company Bassano Selle; Selle SMP; ABI spj; Iberoselle; Selle Montegrappa and Selle San Marco. Together, these companies claimed to represent 99% of the saddle production in the EU at that time.

The notification was published last week by the European Commission in their Official Journal (2011/C 257/07). The anti-dumping measures will expire in June 2012 unless a review is initiated on request of the saddles manufacturers in the European Union. A written request for such a review has to reach the European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade at any time from now but no later than three months before the expiration of the current regulation 22 June 2012.

According to Piero Nigrelli, secretary general of the bicycle division of the Italian industry association ANCMA, the European Saddles Manufacturers Association (ESMA) will decide early 2012 to file a request for a review on the anti-dumping duties on saddles or not.