On Friday 3 April, the AEGIS Europe Alliance of European Manufacturers called on European officials to protect manufacturing companies from a "great takeover" by foreign producers.
The Alliance, which represents more than 20 EU manufacturing associations, is also concerned about 'strategic' inflows of products from non-Member States (see other news).
"The crisis could become the final straw for many EU manufacturing industries already reeling from unfairly traded, predatory imports", argued Inès Van Lierde, President of AEGIS Europe.
AEGIS therefore urged the EU to strengthen its screening of foreign investment. The Commission had already encouraged Member States to do so by issuing guidelines on Wednesday 25 March and to speed up the application of the investment screening mechanism (see EUROPE 12454/12).
The Commission also needs to step up the use of trade defence measures to deal with these export surges, says the manufacturing sector, notably by reacting faster against dumping and foreign subsidies or by extending its safeguard measures.
Agreement on an ambitious international instrument on public procurement should also be prioritised.
The day before, the association had sent a letter to the Commission calling on it to protect its interests. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)