14.7.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities L175/29 COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1523/2000 of 10 July 2000 imposing a definitive countervailing duty and definitively collecting the provisional countervailing duty imposed on imports of stainless steel fasteners originating in Malaysia and the Philippines and terminating the proceeding concerning imports of stainless steel fasteners originating in Singapore and Thailand THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 2026/97 of 6 October 1997 on protection against subsidised imports from countries not members of the European Community (!), and in particular Articles 14 and 15 thereof, Having regard to the proposal submitted by the Commission, after consulting the Advisory Committee, Whereas: () ) A. PROVISIONAL MEASURES By Regulation (EC) No 618/2000 (*) (the ‘Provisional Regulation’), the Commission imposed a provisional countervailing duty on imports into the Community of stainless steel fasteners (‘SSF) originating in Malaysia and the Philippines and falling within CN codes 7318 12 10, 73181410, 73181530, 73181551, 73181561, 7318 1570 and 7318 16 30. B. SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE Subsequent to the disclosure of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was decided to impose provisional countervailing measures on imports of SSF originating in Malaysia and the Philippines, several interested parties made written submissions making their views known on the provisional findings. The parties who so requested were granted an oppor- tunity to be heard. The Commission continued to seek and verify all infor- mation deemed necessary for the definitive findings. All parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend: (i) the imposition of a definitive countervailing duty on imports of SSF originating in Malaysia and the Phil- ippines and the definitive collection, at the level of this duty, of the amounts secured by way of the OJ L 288, 21.10.1997, p. 1. OJ L 75, 24.3.2000, p. 18. (11) provisional countervailing duty imposed on these imports, and (i) the termination of the proceeding concerning imports of SSF originating in Singapore and Thai- land without the imposition of measures. They were also granted a period within which to make representations subsequent to this disclosure. The oral and written comments submitted by the inter- ested parties were considered and, where appropriate, the definitive findings have been modified accordingly. Having reviewed the provisional findings on the basis of the information gathered since then, it is concluded that the main findings as set out in the provisional Regula- tion should be hereby confirmed. C. PRODUCT UNDER CONSIDERATION AND LIKE PRODUCT 1. Product under consideration The provisional Regulation described the product under consideration as stainless steel fasteners, i.e. bolts, nuts and screws of stainless steel which are used to join mechanically two or more elements. The product under consideration falls within CN codes 73181210, 73181410, 73181530, 73181551, 73181561, 7318 1570 and 7318 16 30. In the absence of any comment raised by interested parties to the definition of the product under considera- tion provided in recitals 10 to 13 of the provisional Regulation, this definition is hereby confirmed. 2. Like product In the provisional Regulation, the Commission found that SSF produced and sold on the respective domestic markets of Malaysia and the Philippines, and those exported to the Community from the countries concerned as well as those produced and sold by the Community industry in the Community market have the same physical characteristics and uses. In the absence of any new information on the like product, the provisional findings as described in recital 16 of the provisional Regulation are hereby confirmed.