06/07/26 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 2 July, the European Commission opened a new anti-dumping investigation into alkaline batteries originating in China. The German company Varta, which lodged the complaint, provided evidence indicating that Chinese companies in the sector are owned, controlled or subject to the supervision or direction of the country’s authorities. The complainant points in particular to the fact that the China Industrial Association of Power Sources (CIAPS) and the China Battery Industry Association (CBIA) are under the direct control of the government. Moreover, two of the largest Chinese producers are state-owned enterprises. Lastly, producers of electrolytic manganese dioxide - which is essential to the manufacture of these batteries - are subject to State interference, according to the European Commission, which launched an anti-dumping proceeding on this chemical compound in 2023. The period covered by the investigation runs from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026. See the notice: https://aeur.eu/f/mq8 (JV)