Brussels, 05/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - The day after the closure, on 31 March, of the public consultation on the review of trade defence instruments, which was launched with the adoption in December of the Commission green paper (see EUROPE 9322 and 9387), the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres) has appealed for a fair balance to be struck between free trade and protection against unfair practices. In a press release summarising Eurochambres' opinion, its president, Arnaldo Abruzzini, said that “the aim of TDIs should be to promote the European Union's competitiveness and growth in today's global economy and not to hide inefficient and uncompetitive enterprises under imposed trade barriers”. Eurochambres' main conclusions are as follows: - the adoption of trade defence instruments should only be recommended if a thorough, transparent and fair enquiry has proven unfair trade practices, dumping or subsidy; - trade defence instruments should be used when they are justified in terms of Community interests based on an overall macroeconomic analysis through which all stakeholders have been heard; - the long-term aim of the EU should be to negotiate international competition rules through the WTO. (eh)