No L 117/18 Official Journal of the European Communities 5.5.87 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 12 March 1987 on the initiation of an international consultation and disputes settlement proce- dure concerning a United States measure excluding imports of certain aramid fibres into the United States of America (87/251/EEC) THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2641/84 of 17 September 1984 on the strengthening of the common commercial policy with regard in particular to protection against illicit commercial practices ('), and in particular Article 11 (2) (a), thereof, Whereas : (1) 2) A. Procedure On 9 December 1985, the Commission received a complaint alleging that the application of Section 337 of the US Tariff Act of 1930 in the matter of ‘certain aramid fibres’, an action instigated by E.L Dupont de Nemours (hereinafter Dupont), consti- tuted an illicit commercial practice of the United States Government, and that the resulting order by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) to exclude from the US market unlicensed impor- tations of certain forms of aramid fibre manufac- tured outside the United States by a Community producer, AKZO NV or its affiliated companies (hereinafter AKZO), was thereby causing or threa- tening to cause injury to a Community industry. The complaint was lodged on behalf of the AKZO group by ENKA BV of the Netherlands, the sole producer of aramid fibres in the Community. The () OJ No L 252, 20. 9. 1984, p. 1. 3) 4) ) complaint contained evidence judged by the Commission to be sufficient to warrant the opening of an investigation procedure under Regu- lation (EEC) No 2641/84. An examination procedure was initiated on 5 February 1986 (3). Details of the Community produ- cer’s allegations are contained in the notice of initi- ation. Following the publication of the notice of initiation numerous letters were received from the Union des Industries de la Communauté Européenne (UNICE), other national industrial organizations, as well as from individual trade organizations and companies supporting the complaint. UNICE in particular complained of certain aspects of Section 337 alleging, inter alia, harassment and inequi- table treatment. The Commission notified the parties known to be concerned and gave them the opportunity to make known their views in writing and to request a hearing. The Commission received and examined extensive written submissions from the interested parties. In addition, hearings were granted to those primarily concerned parties who made such a request, i.e. AKZO and Dupont. No such request was made by the United States Government. Due to the () OJ No C 25, 5. 2. 1986, p. 2.