On February 16, 2022, the EU finally decided to take anti-dumping measures against steel fastener products from China. China’s fastener industry expressed the strongest protest and firm opposition to this.
As is known to all, the EU is one of the major markets for China’s fastener exports. We still remember the ANTI-DUMPING case launched by the EU against Chinese fastener products in 2008. Six years ago this month, the CASE was annulled by the WTO’s appellate body and the EU had to lift anti-dumping duties.
On December 21, 2020, the EU again launched an anti-dumping investigation against Chinese fasteners. However, the whole process of the ruling up until recently lacked any factual and legal basis. The eu industry lacks the qualification to appeal, the substitution price is not based on WTO rules, and the fabrication of ordinary Chinese fasteners has caused damage to high-end products such as eu automotive fasteners. Facts have proved that Chinese fasteners do not harm the EU fastener industry. The EU market has a huge demand for Chinese fasteners, and the Chinese market also has a huge demand for EU fasteners. The products of the two sides are very different, and the trade status quo of the two sides just plays a complementary role. However, in disregard of facts and laws, the EU blindly considers its own interests, neglects the common interests of both sides of the trade and is irresponsible, insists on prejudice and imposes high tax rates on Chinese fastener products.
We once again call on the EU to face up to the reality, respect facts, foster mutual trust, mutual benefit, cooperation and win-win development with a positive and pragmatic attitude, strengthen communication and coordination between the two sides and solve problems on the basis of a fair, just and reasonable framework. If the EU goes ahead, it will not only hurt China’s fastener industry, but also European manufacturers, traders and consumers.
The global environment has become more complex, grim and uncertain. Countries have taken joint measures to counter the crisis and oppose trade protectionism. However, the EU reneged on its commitment and abused anti-dumping protection measures again after the fastener case was lost by the WTO appellate body. We are outraged by the EU’s persistent trade protectionism in violation of WTO trade rules. We reaffirm that no matter how the international situation may change, we will unswervingly do our own work well. China’s fastener industry will unite, make full use of legal weapons and take necessary measures in accordance with international trade rules to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
We once again urge the EU and some other countries to face up to the trend of economic development in China and Europe. We do not want to see the fastener industry of both sides needlessly hurt by the trade dispute caused by the eu’s irresponsible behavior. Only by adopting sensible measures conducive to the development of China-Eu economic and trade cooperation, suspending the tax as soon as possible and starting bilateral negotiations, can the EU strive for a win-win situation.
China General Machinery Parts industry Association
Fastener Branch
February 20, 2022
Post time: Mar-03-2022