Christmas Surprise for German Laminate Flooring Producers Turkish Government starts Anti-Dumping Investigation

The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Turkey prepared a displeasing Christmas surprise for the German producers of laminate flooring on the virtual second to the last working day before this year’s two weeks Christmas and New Year’s holiday period. As the EPLF European Producers of Laminate Flooring Association (Bielefeld/Germany) was informed by members, the General Directorate for Imports of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Turkey initiated an anti-dumping investigation procedure following a publication of the Turkish “Official Gazette” on December 18, 2013.

This initiative is targeted against laminate flooring originating from Germany. Based on an extensive questionnaire all German manufacturers are requested to supply detailed, in parts outmost internal information accompanied by relevant evidence until January 24, 2014, to the Turkish authorities.

Representing its German members the EPLF immediately addressed the Turkish Ministry of Economy asking for a deadline extension in respect of the company closure usual in Germany between Christmas and January 6. At the same time the EU-Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, and the Ministry of Economy of the Federal Republic of Germany were informed. EPLF managing director Peter H. Meyer comments cautiously: “In the interest of a free flow of trade inside Europe we will do everything possible in the legal framework to prevent the emerging of new, non-adequate trade barriers, even with Turkey being a member of the European Union not yet. Simultaneously we have to keep in mind the interests of our Turkish members and the increasing importance of Turkey as a sales market. We hope that no objective evidence of price dumping will become evident”. The EPLF itself feels not in a position to assess whether this initiative of the Turkish government has to be looked at as a pinpricking in connection with the ongoing talks between the EU and Turkey.


www.eplf.com and www.mylaminate.eu


Picture:
elne1310_b1: EPLF managing director Peter H. Meyer: “It’s surprising that the Turkish Ministry of Economy investigates price dumping by German manufacturers of laminate flooring”. – Photo: EPLF