KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said it will initiate an anti-dumping investigation on cold rolled stainless steel (CRSS) and will be making a preliminary determination within 120 days of initiation.

The ministry said it will provide a set of questionnaires to interested parties including importers, foreign producers, exporters and associations, which will be available on request no later than May 29.

"Interested parties may also provide additional supporting evidence to MITI on, or before, June 15. In the event no additional information is received within the specified period, the government will make its preliminary findings based on the available facts," it said in a statement today.

"In accordance with the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Act 1993 and its related Regulations, a preliminary determination will be made within 120 days from the date of initiation.

"If the preliminary determination is affirmative, the government will impose an anti-dumping duty at the rate that is necessary to prevent further injury," it added.

To recap, the Malaysian government received a petition from a domestic producer requesting anti-dumping investigation on imports of CRSS on April 17.

MITI said the petitioner alleged that imports of CRSS from China, South Korea, Taipei and Thailand are being dumped into Malaysia at prices lower than their domestic price.

The petitioner said the imports from these markets have increased in quantity and have caused material injury.