The European Union has launched an investigation into tin-plated or tin-coated steel flat-rolled products from China to assess whether the products imported into the EU are being sold at unfairly low prices. This move was announced in the official EU Gazette on Thursday, May 16.
Following a complaint filed by the European Steel Association (Eurofer), the European Commission, responsible for overseeing trade policies of the EU’s 27 member states, initiated this anti-dumping investigation. The investigation into tin-coated steel products is the latest in a series of trade and subsidy investigations by the EU targeting Chinese exports and Chinese companies operating in Europe. Among these investigations, one of the most notable is the anti-subsidy investigation concerning electric vehicles.
According to reports from Reuters, the investigation into tin-coated steel could last for 14 months, with the EU potentially imposing provisional tariffs within seven to eight months. One of the core allegations in the complaint is that Chinese producers benefit from distorted raw material prices, particularly hot-rolled flat steel or steel, which constitute 60%-70% of production costs and are subject to export restrictions from China.
The European Steel Association stated that initiating this investigation is a significant step towards restoring a fair competitive environment. They added that from 2021 to 2023, EU industrial losses amounted to a quarter of sales volume, while imports from China more than doubled during that period. This investigation aims to address concerns related to unfair competition practices and create a level playing field for steel producers in the EU.