European Union opens anti-dumping investigation

The European Commission has announced the opening of an anti-dumping investigation into aluminum extrusions originating from China. The investigation follows a complaint by the association called European Aluminium. According to an association news release, its member companies are “negatively impacted by the dumping of Chinese exports of aluminum extrusions.”

European Aluminium says it supports the Commission’s action and urges the swift adoption of appropriate anti-dumping measures.

“Increasing amounts of underpriced Chinese exports are dumped on the EU market, with harmful consequences for European aluminum producers,” says Gerd Götz, director general of European Aluminium. “In the past year, production lines and entire plants closed, with significant job losses as a result. We ask the EU to be proactive rather than wait until it is too late. We need anti-dumping duties to be introduced urgently.” 

Chinese exports to the EU have more than doubled in the past five years. This is particularly the case for extrusions, the association says. The EU remains one of the last major markets that is unprotected against dumped Chinese exports of aluminum extrusions, the association adds. Aluminum extrusions from China are currently subject to anti-dumping duties in the United States, Canada, Australia and Vietnam.

“We have every reason to believe the dumping will continue unless the EU protects its market," Götz says. "If no urgent action is taken, Chinese production will further substitute European production and the EU risks losing a strategic value chain that is crucial to many low-carbon applications.”