European trade union federations ETUC and IndustriAll demanded on Tuesday 8 November that EU trade ministers meeting on Friday 11 November (see EUROPE 11662) agree on updating the EU’s trade defence instruments and introduce a raft of robust anti-dumping measures to protect industry and jobs in Europe from unfair, subsidised practices on the global market, particularly China.
"Unfair competition is destroying EU manufacturing jobs. Europe must have the proper tools to defend its industry", says the ETUC, adding that the lack of effective instruments has led to a situation of unacceptable, aggressive dumping of under-priced Chinese steel on the European market.. The ETUC demands trade defence instruments to introduce targeted restrictions on imports from outside the EU of products made by workers not protected by international labour standards.
Regretting the fact that plans unveiled by the European Commission in April 2013 have been in deadlock at the Council of Ministers of the EU for two years (see EUROPE 10824), the ETUC points out that the European Parliament decided on its negotiating position in April 2014 (see EUROPE 11063) when it amended the current trade defence system to impose stiffer duties on dumped or subsidised imported goods if the exporting third country does not have a sufficient level of social and environmental standards, but this was not accepted by the member states.
"It is time for the Council to agree to give European workers a fair chance. It is ridiculous that the UK has announced its intention to leave the EU and yet is obstructing urgently-needed reforms", says the ETUC.
IndustriAll Europe says: "It is critical for European industrial regions and communities that we have TDIs with teeth. Europe should stop being naïve. EU trade policy must ensure a level playing field where all companies compete according to the same rules, including the highest environmental standards and workers’ rights".
Last week, the two trade union federations joined a group of MEPs taking part in an initiative organised by the MES China Action Group, the industrial association Aegis Europe, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee aiming to ensure that the granting of market economy status (MES) to China at the WTO, expected on 9 November, does not further weaken European industry (see EUROPE 11656).
ETUC and IndustriAll have called a demonstration of more than 12,000 European steel workers in the European quarter of Brussels on Wednesday to demand action to halt the continued decline of the industry.
"This situation has been brought about by misguided austerity policies in Europe and has led to stifled growth and investments in infrastructure, a lack of investment", explain the two organisations. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)