The European Commission published, on Friday 14 February, a notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of Chinese aluminium extrusions.
The complaint, lodged on 3 January, was issued by European Aluminium on behalf of seven producers representing more than 25% of the total EU production of aluminium extrusions.
These are bars, rod, profiles (hollow or not), tubes, pipes, unassembled; whether or not prepared for use structures (cut to length, drilled, bent, chamfered, threaded): made from aluminium, whether or not alloyed, containing not more than 99.3% of aluminium.
To substantiate the allegations of significant distortions, the complainant relied on various documents, including the Commission's report on China published in 2017, but also on a paper by the EU Chamber of Commerce in Beijing on Chinese overcapacities, an OECD report on global aluminium value chains. These documents point to government support for the Chinese industry that appears to explain the increased overcapacity of aluminium in the industry. As these overproductions cannot be sold on the domestic market, producers, encouraged by the public authorities, turn to export markets, in particular the EU.
The Commission has therefore initiated an investigation which will cover the period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. The analysis of trends relevant for the injury determination will cover the period 2016-2019.
To consult the notice: https://bit.ly/2UQ3IjJ (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)