EU declares anti-dumping investigation into Chinese Aluminium extrusions: European Aluminium Welcomes, Aluminium Association applauds

On 14^th February’20, the European Commission declares the opening of an anti-dumping investigation into aluminium extrusions emerged from China. The investigation follows a complaint launched by European Aluminium whose member companies are negatively impacted by the dumping of Chinese exports of aluminium extrusions.

European Aluminium supports the Commission’s step and desires the swift adoption of appropriate anti-dumping measures.

Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium said: “Increasing amounts of under-priced Chinese exports are dumped on the EU market, with harmful consequences for European aluminium producers. In the past year, production lines and entire plants closed, with significant job losses as a result. We ask the EU to be proactive rather than wait until it is too late – we need anti-dumping duties to be introduced urgently.”

The Chinese exports in the last five years had gone beyond double to the EU. This is distinctly the case of extrusions.

“Chinese firms are not playing by the rules and show no signs of changing their approach. We have every reason to believe the dumping will continue unless the EU protects its market. If no urgent action is taken, Chinese production will further substitute European production and the EU risks losing a strategic value chain that is crucial to many low carbon applications,” concludes Götz.

Aluminium extrusions from China are currently subject to anti-dumping duties in the US, Canada, Australia and Vietnam, but the EU remained one of the last major markets that are unprotected against dumped Chinese exports of aluminium extrusions.

The Aluminum Association which represents aluminium production and jobs in the United States made public the following statement by Lauren Wilk, Vice President for policy and international trade, in response to the launch of a European Commission anti-dumping investigation into aluminium extrusions coming from China:

“The Aluminum Association appreciates the European Union’s (EU) efforts to enforce international trade laws by investigating the dumping of Chinese aluminium extrusions. Strong trade enforcement is essential to creating a level playing field for aluminium producers worldwide. The Aluminum Association has supported two successful antidumping and countervailing duty cases against unfairly traded aluminium foil and common alloy sheet in recent years. Previously, the industry was successful in pursuing anti-dumping measures on Chinese aluminium extrusions unfairly dumped in the United States. We welcome additional efforts by our trading partners in Europe and around the world that demonstrate a commitment to the rigorous and timely enforcement of global trade rules.”