On May 29, 1999, the International Trade Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the "ITC of MOEA") made an affirmative preliminary determination in its injury investigation involving DRAMs of one megabit and above from the U.S.
According to the affirmative preliminary determination, the ITC found that there is a reasonable indication that an R.O.C. industry is being materially injured by reason of imports of DRAMs of one megabit and above from the U.S. that are allegedly sold in R.O.C. at less than normal value.
Under the jurisdiction set forth in the Implementing Regulation on the Imposition of Countervailing and Antidumping Duties, the MOEA shall make an investigation, conducted by ITC, as to whether there is any injury to an R.O.C. industry. As a result of the MOEA"s affirmative preliminary determination, the Ministry of Finance will continue to conduct a dumping investigation of imports of DRAMs from the U.S., and its preliminary determination will be made within seventy-five days (if not extended) after the next day of receipt of a notice, which was made by the MOEA on June 2, 1999, of the foregoing determination.
The public Chinese version of the preliminary injury investigation report is expected to be available after June 11, 1999, from the Investigation Division of the ITC. If you would like a copy of this report, please contact us.
FACTUAL HIGHLIGHT
Product Description:The imported products subject to this investigation are DRAMs which are generally used as the main memory in a variety of electronic products including computers and computer peripherals, telecommunications equipment, networking equipment, and consumer electronics devices. The DRAMs subject to this investigation may be classified under subheadings 8542.19.90.20, 8542.19.10.00 and some other subheadings of the Customs Import Tariff and Classification of Import and Export Commodities of the Republic of China.
Status of Proceedings: 1. Type of investigation: Preliminary antidumping. 2. Petitioner: Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association. 3. Date of the initiation of the preliminary investigation by the ITC: April 20, 1999. 4. Date of the ITC preliminary conference: May 10, 1999. 5. Date of the ITC vote: May 29, 1999. 6. Date of MOEA determination to the Ministry of Finance: June 2, 1999.
R.O.C. Industry: 1. Number of producers during the period, January 1, 1998-March 31, 1999: 13. 2. Employment of production and related workers during the period, January 1, 1998-March 31, 1999: about 8,000. 3. Apparent R.O.C. consumption during the period, January 1, 1998- March 31, 1999: about 778 million pieces. 4. Market share held by the domestic like product during the period, January 1, 1998- March 31, 1999: about 51% by quantity in pieces.
R.O.C. Imports: 1. Subject imports from the U.S. during the period, January 1, 1998-March 31, 1999: about 47 million pieces. 2. Subject imports from third countries during the period, January 1, 1998-March 31, 1999: about 333 million pieces. 3. Leading import sources during the period, January 1, 1998-March 31, 1999: Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, U.S.A.