Commission imposes anti-subsidy duties on imports of optical fibre cables from China
The anti-subsidy investigation revealed that Chinese producers of optical fibre cables benefitted from a number of government subsidies, including funds aimed at supporting R&D and innovation, as well as preferential tax rates reserved for the high-tech industry. Furthermore, the Chinese producers had access to attractive loans from the China Development Bank Fund, a policy-oriented investment organisation that supports projects in key strategic sectors set out by the Chinese government. These subsidies create unfair competition and as such are injurious to EU industry.
The European optical fibre cable industry is key to the EU’s digital sovereignty because optical fibre cables are crucial for the transition to advanced broadband telecommunication networks for homes and businesses in the EU. The economic value of this industry is significant for the EU: it employs 5,000 people and has a yearly turnover of €1 billion. Therefore, it is particularly important to ensure that this European industry is not weakened by dumped or subsidised imports.
The anti-subsidy duties imposed on optical fibre cables from China range from 5.1% to 10.3%. As is customary, the anti-dumping measures imposed on the same product on 18 November 2021 have been adjusted to avoid double counting wherever dumping and subsidy practices overlap.
Commission imposes anti-dumping duties on imports of steel wind towers from China
The Commission has published a regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of steel wind towers from China. The duties range from 7.2% to 19.2%. These measures serve to protect and defend EU producers and workers from trade distortive practices that harm EU manufacturing
The investigation has confirmed that imports of steel wind towers from China at an annual value of €300 million were taking place at dumped prices, causing economic damage to EU producers. Steel wind towers are an important component of wind turbines, which are essential for wind energy production and for the transition to green energy.
The imposition of anti-dumping duties will ensure fair competitive conditions for sales of steel wind towers in the EU market. It will allow wind turbine manufacturers in the EU and their wind projects to be able to choose from both EU manufactured and imported steel wind towers at competitive and fair prices. These anti-dumping measures will also help protect the steel value chain and over 3600 direct jobs in the EU.
Steel wind towers production is economically very significant for the EU, with a yearly market value of around €1 billion. EU manufactured steel wind towers are also placed in wind turbines in other parts of the globe, as worldwide only a handful of countries produce wind towers
Commission imposes countervailing duties on imports of aluminium converter foil from China
The European Commission imposed countervailing duties on imports of aluminium converter foil from China. These duties come on top of the anti-dumping measures imposed on 8 December 2021 on the same product. The combined duties range from 16,1% to 46,7%.
Aluminium converter foil is an important commodity on the EU market with a market value of € 630 million. The aluminium converter foil industry is an essential partner, notably for the manufacturers of electric car batteries and the EU packaging industry. The tariffs will help defend EU companies and workers in this sector: the imports of aluminium converter foil from China will no longer enjoy an unfair advantage over the Union industry and will compete on an equal footing.
The investigation confirmed the existence of countervailing subsidies, notably preferential financing and the provision of land for less than adequate remuneration. Dumped and subsidised imports caused a loss of market share and a significant reduction in profitability for EU producers.
Commission initiates 2 anti-circumvention investigations on imports of Glass Fibre Fabrics
The Commission initiated on 16 December 2021 two anti-circumvention investigations concerning possible circumvention via Turkey of the anti-dumping and the anti-subsidy measures imposed in 2020 against imports of glass fibre fabrics (‘GFF’) from China and Egypt. GFF is a material used in a wide range of products to reinforce thermoplastic and thermoset resins and is also used in the production of windmill blades. The EU industry employs some 2.000 persons and produces more than 100.000 tonnes per year. The annual import value amounts to some 30 million euro and the market value is around 200 million euro.
The investigations will determine whether transhipment of GFF products via Turkey – where the products possibly undergo assembly or completion operations with the aim to circumvent the duties – is taking place. If such circumvention practices are confirmed, the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures in place against unfairly priced imports from China and Egypt can be extended to imports from Turkey. Findings are due by September 2022. In May 2021, the Commission also initiated anti-circumvention investigations via Morocco of imports of the same product via Morocco which are still ongoing, with findings due by February 2022.