European Aluminium applauds preliminary anti- dumping duties on extrusions from China
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Brussels, 24 September 2020 – On Tuesday 22 September, the European Commission announced its intention to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on aluminium extrusions originating in China. The duty rates vary from 30.4 to 48% and are the result of an investigation opened in February this year, following a complaint from European Aluminium. European Aluminium applauds this important milestone in the fight against China’s unfair trade practices.
“With this proposal, the Commission shows it is walking the talk when it comes to increasing the EU’s trade defence against unfair trade practices. These anti-dumping duties are crucial for the survival of the European aluminium value chain, which is critical to Europe’s transition to a digital and green economy,” commented Gerd Götz, European Aluminium’s Director General.
Chinese imports of semi-fabricated aluminium products into the EU have more than doubled in the past five years (2014-2019). The destructive impact of dumped imports has led to a decrease in production and a loss of market share for European producers across the entire value chain, which forced several companies to restructure or close plants with significant job losses as a result.
“We expect the Commission to impose the definitive measures at the end of the anti-dumping investigation. We also anticipate that the outcome of the ongoing anti-dumping investigation into certain flat-rolled products from China will result in the adoption of equally effective preliminary duties,” concluded Gerd Götz.
The provisional duties on aluminium extrusions are expected to be imposed by 15 October, and will possibly be applied with a retroactive effect to the date of the registration of imports (25 August 2020). The European Commission’s investigation will continue and is expected to be finalised in April 2021. At that point, the duties will likely be confirmed as definitive. If the definitive duties are confirmed, they will normally be in place for five years.
Semi-fabricated aluminium products from China are subject to anti-dumping duties in other major markets like the US, Canada, India, South Korea, Australia and Vietnam.
Note to editors:
The products subject to the preliminary duties are aluminium bars, rods, profiles (whether or not hollow), tubes, pipes; unassembled; whether or not prepared for use in structures (e.g., cut-to-length, drilled, bent, chamfered, threaded); made from aluminium, whether or not alloyed, containing not more than 99.3 % of aluminium.
The products concerned are commonly referred to as ‘extrusions,’ referring to their most common manufacturing process even if the product concerned can also be produced by other production processes such as rolling, forging or casting.
About European Aluminium:
European Aluminium, founded in 1981 and based in Brussels, is the voice of the aluminium industry in Europe. We actively engage with decision makers and the wider stakeholder community to promote the outstanding properties of aluminium, secure growth and optimise the contribution our metal can make to meeting Europe’s sustainability challenges. Through environmental and technical expertise, economic and statistical analysis, scientific research, education and sharing of best practices, public affairs and communication activities, European Aluminium promotes the use of aluminium as a material with permanent properties that is part of the solution to achieving sustainable goals, while maintaining and improving the image of the industry, of the material and of its applications among their stakeholders. Our 80+ members include primary aluminium producers; downstream manufacturers of extruded, rolled and cast aluminium; producers of recycled aluminium and national aluminium associations are representing more than 600 plants in 30 European countries. Aluminium products are used in a wide range of markets, including automotive, transport, high-tech engineering, building, construction and packaging.
For further information, please contact: communications@european-aluminium.eu, +32 2 775 63 63