The European Commission announced on Friday 12 June the initiation of an anti-subsidy proceeding concerning imports of hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel originating in Turkey (https://bit.ly/37omLpx ).
The complaint was lodged on 30 April by Eurofer on behalf of producers representing more than 25% of the production of these goods in the EU. A number of subsidies from the Turkish authorities are allegedly involved: direct transfer of public funds, government revenue foregone or not collected, provision by the government of goods or services (coal, natural gas, electricity and water) at concessionary prices, conferring an advantage to Turkish exporters.
The complainant has also provided evidence that imports of these products have increased overall in absolute terms and in terms of market share resulting in a negative impact on the level of prices charged by the Union industry. This increase is “resulting in substantial adverse effects on the overall performance, financial situation and employment situation of the Union industry”, according to the notice.
The Commission, having found the European industry’s complaint to be well-founded and the subsidies found to be countervailable, will therefore carry out an investigation, the results of which will be known in approximately one year’s time. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)