EU en Japan vragen overleg aan met China in WHO over anti-dumpverplichtingen (en)

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 13 June 2013

EU Joins Japan in WTO Challenge against Chinese Anti-dumping Duties on Steel Tubes

The European Union today requested consultations with China in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) concerning Chinese anti-dumping duties imposed on imports of high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes (“HP-SSST”) from the EU. Japan had already started a dispute settlement proceeding on the same measure addressed against Japanese products.

The EU believes the anti-dumping duties are incompatible with WTO law, both on procedural and on substantive grounds. WTO consultations will give the EU and China the opportunity to find a negotiated solution. If the consultations are not successful, after 60 days the EU can ask the WTO to establish a panel to rule on the case.

The duties of 9.7% to 11.1% imposed on European products are significantly hampering access to the Chinese market.

Background

On 8 November 2012 China confirmed its earlier provisional decision and imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on certain high-performance seamless tubes of stainless steel imported from the European Union and Japan. These products are used mainly in superheaters and reheaters of supercritical or ultra-supercritical boilers in power stations.

On 20 December 2012, Japan requested consultations with China pursuant to the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes and the WTO Anti-dumping Agreement. The EU joined these consultations. The discussions did not, however, succeed in resolving the dispute and a panel was established between Japan and China at the meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body of 24 May 2013.

For further information

Trade defence cases against the EU

Information on China’s anti-dumping duties on high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes

Information on Japan’s case at the WTO

Dispute Settlement and the World Trade Organisation