On Thursday 5 June, the European Commission launched an import surveillance tool in the wake of numerous US tariff increases, which are likely to cause trade flows to be redirected. The tool provides data on increases in imports in terms of both volume and price, based on information supplied by customs.
With this tool at its disposal, the European Commission assures that it will be able to quickly identify products redirected following the imposition of tariffs by a third country, and that it will be able to take effective measures to protect the European market, if necessary.
To supplement these figures, the European Commission is inviting Member States and industry to provide information on the economic situation of sectors where imports are likely to increase. In this way, it will be able to target the risks posed by import surges more effectively.
Back in April, the European Commission set up an Import Surveillance Task Force to monitor these flows (see EUROPE 13616/2). It has also negotiated with China - whose exports are particularly prone to redirections - to monitor the flow of its products. Beijing has undertaken to deal with any significant diversion of its exports.
To see the surveillance tool: https://aeur.eu/f/h6r (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)