L 379/68 Official Journal of the European Union 24.12.2004 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2231/2004 of 23 December 2004 terminating the investigation concerning the possible circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 119/97 on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the People’s Republic of China by imports of certain ring binder mechanisms consigned from Thailand, whether declared as originating in Thailand or not, and terminating the registration of such imports imposed by Regulation (EC) No 844/2004 THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 38496 of 22 December 1995 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Community (*) (‘the basic Regulation’) and in particular Article 13 thereof, After consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: A. PROCEDURE By Regulation (EC) No 119/97 () (the original Regu- lation’), the Council imposed definitive anti-dumping duties ranging from 32.5% to 39.4% on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms (RBMs)) originating in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). These rates of duty were applicable to RBMs other than those with 17 or 23 rings, while RBMs with 17 and 23 rings were subject to a duty equal to the difference between the minimum import price (MIP) of EUR 325 per 1 000 pieces and the free-at-Community-frontier not cleared through customs price whenever the latter was lower than the MIP. By Regulation (EC) No 2100/2000 the Council amended and increased the abovementioned duties for certain RBMs other than 17 or 23 rings, following an investi- gation pursuant to Article 12 of the basic Regulation. The amended duties ranged from 51.2% to 78.8 %. () OJ L 56, 6.3.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 461/2004 (O] L 77, 13.3.2004, p. 12). () O] L 22, 24.1.1997, p. 1. Regulation as amended by (EC) No 2100/2000 (OJ L 250, 5.10.2000, p. 1). () By Council Regulation (EC) No 2074/2004 (%), the existing anti-dumping measures were extended for four years. On 29 April 2004, by Regulation (EC) No 844/2004 (%) (‘the initiating Regulation’), the Commission initiated on its own initiative an investigation pursuant to Article 13(3) of the basic Regulation concerning the possible circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Council Regulation (EC) No 119/97 on imports of certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the People’s Republic of China by imports of certain ring binder mechanisms consigned from Thailand, whether declared as originating in Thailand or not, and making such imports subject to registration. The Commission had at its disposal sufficient prima facie evidence that there had been a significant change in the pattern of trade involving exports of RBMs from the PRC and Thailand to the EU, following the imposition of measures on imports of RBMs originating in the PRC. This change in the pattern of trade was alleged to stem from the transhipment of RBMs originating in the PRC via Thailand. Moreover, there was sufficient prima facie evidence showing that the remedial effects of the existing anti-dumping duties on certain ring binder mechanisms originating in the PRC were being undermined both in terms of quantities and prices and that dumping took place in relation to the normal values previously estab- lished. The product concerned is, as defined in the original Regulation, certain RBMs currently classifiable within CN code ex 830510 00. These RBMs consist of two rectangular steel sheets or wires with at least four half- rings made of steel wire fixed on it and which are kept together by a steel cover. They can be opened either by pulling the half rings or by using a small steel-made trigger mechanism fixed to the RBM. () O] L 359, 4.12.2004, p. 11. () O] L 127, 29.4.2004, p. 67.