2024年欧盟贸易防御工具年度报告 REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL

ENEN

EUROPEAN

COMMISSION

Brussels,28.7.2025

COM(2025)428final

REPORTFROMTHECOMMISSIONTOTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENTAND

THECOUNCIL

43rdAnnualReportfromtheCommissiontotheEuropeanParliamentandtheCouncil

ontheEU’sAnti-Dumping,Anti-SubsidyandSafeguardactivitiesandtheUseofTrade

DefenceInstrumentsbyThirdCountriestargetingtheEUin2024

{SWD(2025)231final}

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EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Thisisthe43rdReportontheEuropeanUnion’s(EU)tradedefenceactivity.ItcoverstheEU’santi-dumping,anti-subsidyandsafeguardactivities,thirdcountries’tradedefenceactivitieswithrespecttogoodsimportedfromtheEUandtheHearingOfficer’sactivitiesin2024.ItisaccompaniedbyaCommissionstaffworkingdocumentprovidingmoredetailedinformationandstatistics.

Theyear2024wasalandmarkyearfortheEU’stradedefenceactivity.TheCommissioninitiated33newinvestigations,whichwasarecordnumberofnewcasesnotseensince2006.Consideringtheaverageofnewcasesinitiatedistraditionallyaround12annually,thelevelofactivityin2024wasindeedsignificant.Overathirdofthenewcasesinitiatedwereinthechemicalsector.Atthesametime,thenarrativeontradedefenceactivitywaslargelydominatedbythehighlypoliticised,economicallyimportantandmuchpublicisedanti-subsidyinvestigationintobatteryelectricvehicles(BEVs)fromChina.Throughthatinvestigation,theCommissionshowcaseditscommitmenttotherigorousapplicationofEUandWTOrules.ThesteelsafeguardalsofeaturedprominentlywithareviewbeingopenedinviewofthedeteriorationofthesituationoftheEUsteelindustry.

AgainstabackdropofanincreaseinunfairlytradedimportshittingEUproducers,inordertogiveaclearsignalthattheEUmeansbusinesswhentacklingunfaircompetitionfromimports,theCommissiondecidedinOctober2024toautomaticallyregisterimportsinallanti-dumpingandanti-subsidyinvestigations.Furthermore,ontakingoffice,thenewCommissionopenlyreaffirmedacontinuedcommitmenttorobustlytackleunfaircompetitionanddefendEUindustry.

Bytheendoftheyear,thenumberofmeasuresinplacehadgrowntoatotalof199(definitiveandprovisional)upfrom186attheend2023.Thenumberofjobsprotectedbythesemeasuresincreasedexponentiallygoingfromalmosthalfamilliondirectjobsattheendof2023toover625000byDecember2024,withthemeasuresonBEVsaloneprotectingover115000jobs.

EnsuringtheeffectivenessofthemeasuresremainsahighpriorityfortheCommissionasitisintrinsictothestrengthoftheinstruments.Monitoringimportlevelsandmarketdevelopmentsinassociationwiththeindustryandactingagainstcircumventioncontinuedthroughout2024.Duringtheyear,anti-circumventioninvestigationsresultedintwomeasuresbeingextendedtostampoutdutyevasionthroughinstancesoftranshipment,bothinvolvingmorethanoneothercountry.Theanti-dumpingmeasuresonimportsofbirchplywoodfromRussiawereextendedtoTürkiyeandKazakhstanandtheanti-dumpingandanti-subsidymeasuresonimportsofstainless-steelcold-rolledflatproducts(SSCR)fromIndonesiawereextendedtoTaiwan,TürkiyeandVietnam.WithouttakingsuchactionthemeasuresinplacewouldbeseriouslyunderminedandtheEUindustryexposedagaintothedamagingeffectsofdumpedandsubsidisedimports.

2024broughtimportantCourtjudgments,notleasttheconfirmationbytheCourtofJusticeofthefindingsoftheGeneralCourtregardingcrossbordersupport,suchasthosegrantedbyChinaundertheir‘Belt&Road’initiative,thatitispossibletoattributethefinancialsupportofathirdcountrytothegovernmentofthecountryoforiginorexport.TheCommissionapproachinrelationtotheconstructionofthenormalvaluewhenthereisafindingofsignificantdistortions

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accordingtoArticle2(6a)ofthebasicRegulationwasalsoconfirmedinanimportantcourtruling.ThesejudgmentsreaffirmedtheEU’sapproachintacklingparticularlydamagingunfairtradepractices.

TheincreaseinEUinvestigationswasmatchedbyanincreaseinthird-countrycasesagainsttheEUoritsMemberStates,with34casesinitiatedin2024,upfrom20in2023.WhiletheEUdoesnotdisputethirdcountries’righttousethetradedefenceinstrumentswherewarranted,regrettablysomeofthesecases,particularlythreeinitiatedbyChina,wereunjustifiedandmotivatedbyretaliationagainsttheEU’slegitimateanti-subsidyinvestigationintoBEVs.Whilemonitoringthirdcountrytradedefenceactivityisalreadydemanding,theseunwarrantedinvestigationscreateunnecessaryadditionalchallengesforexportersconcernedandaretantamounttounlawfulbarrierstomarketaccess.Nevertheless,facedwiththesechallengestheCommissionstronglydefendedandsupportedtheexportersaffectedincludingbyactingthroughtheWTODisputeSettlementchannelsonChina’sprovisionalanti-dumpingmeasuresonbrandyandtheinitiationoftheanti-subsidyinvestigationondairyproducts.

Throughout2024,thetradedefenceservicesengagedinextensivecommunicationandinformationactivities,includingspecificinformationsessionsontheBEVsinvestigationaswellaspresentationsdesignedtohelpsmallandmedium-sizedenterprisesnavigatethecomplexitiesoftradedefence.Overall,theEU’stradedefenceactivityin2024demonstrateditscommitmenttofairtrade,transparency,andtheprotectionofEUindustryandjobs.

IAPPLICATIONOFTRADEDEFENCEINSTRUMENTS(TDI)IN2024

1.INVESTIGATIVEACTIVITY

1.1.Generaloverview

Attheendof2024,theEUhad192definitivetradedefencemeasuresinforce,composedof124anti-dumping(AD)measures,38extensionsofanti-dumpingmeasuresfollowinganti-circumventioninvestigations,22anti-subsidy(AS)measures,7extensionsofanti-subsidymeasuresfollowinganti-circumventioninvestigationsand1safeguard(SFG)measure.Therewerealso7provisionalanti-dumpingmeasuresinplacegivingatotalof199measuresinplaceattheendofthe2024.Thesemeasuresprotectover625000directjobsintheEU.

In2024,theCommissionworkedon33newinvestigationsand31reviewsinitiatedaswellas39investigationswhichwereongoingatthestartoftheyear.TheCommissionconcluded8newinvestigationsand34reviewsduringtheyear.

ThisreportisaccompaniedbyaCommissionStaffWorkingDocumentwhichprovidesmoreinformationandstatisticsandincludesannexesforthesectionsbelow.

1.2.Anti-dumping(AD)andanti-subsidy(AS)investigations(seeAnnexesAtoI)

In2024,theCommissioninitiated33newinvestigations(29AD,3ASand1SFG).Thisisarecordnumberofinvestigationsgoingbackasfaras2006andcomparesto12newinvestigationsinitiatedin2023.Overathirdofthenewcases(12)concernedproductsinthechemicalsector,allfromChina.Thiswasadoublingofnewcasesinthatsectorcomparedto2023andasignificantcontrastwithpreviousyears,whentherewerenonewchemicalcasesin2022,andonlyoneeachintheyears2018to2021.Thistrendmaybeattributedtoabuild-upofmassiveovercapacitiesinthatsectorinChinacoupledwiththeremovalofthepandemic

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restrictionsandlogisticalobstacles(shippingcontainercrisis)whichmayhaveledtoafloodofunfairlytradedexportsfromChinesetotheEU.

TheCommissioninitiated30reviewsin2024,whichwasaslightdropcomparedto31in2023.Themajority(21)ofthesewereexpiryreviewsandtheremaindercomprised4interimreviews,3anti-circumventioninvestigationsand2safeguardreviews.Theincreaseinthenumberofexpiryreviewsislinkedtothe5-yearlifecycleofmeasures.

Intotal,63newandreviewinvestigationswereinitiated,whichwasasignificantincreaseonthe43investigationsopenedin2023.

TheCommissionimposed10provisionalmeasures(9ADand1AS)andconcluded7ADinvestigationsbyimposingdefinitivemeasures.TheCommissionterminated1ASinvestigation(AlkylPhosphateEsters)withoutimposingmeasuresasthecomplaintwaswithdrawn.However,itcontinuedtheADinvestigationintothesameproductwhichresultedintheimpositionofdefinitivemeasuresinSeptember2024.

In2024,11expiryreviewswereconcludedwiththedutybeingconfirmed.TwoADmeasuresexpiredautomaticallyattheendofthe5-yearperiodofimposition.

2020-2024TDIActivity

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20202021202220232024

NewinvestigationsReviewsDefinitivemeasures

1.3.Safeguardinvestigations

Twosafeguard(SFG)investigationswereinitiatedin2024.Onewasafunctioningreviewofthesteelsafeguardmeasureandanewinvestigationwasopenedconcerningimportsofmanganeseandsilicon-basedalloyingelements.AreviewofthebilateralsafeguardmeasuresonIndicaricefromCambodiaandMyanmar/Burmawasalsoconcludedin2024.

Functioningreview-SFGmeasureconcerningcertainsteelproducts

TheEUsteelSFGmeasurewasimposedinJuly2018withdefinitivemeasuresinJanuary2019.Subsequently,theCommissioncarriedoutseveralreviews.TheCommissionconcludedthelastreviewinJuly2024,whichresultedintheprolongationofthemeasuretoitsmaximumdurationof8years,untilJuly2026.

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InNovember2024,theCommissionreceivedarequestfromseveralMemberStatestoinitiateareviewofthesteelSFGmeasure.TheinformationprovidedshowedthatthesituationoftheEUsteelindustryhaddeterioratedsincethepreviousreview.Inasituationofdecliningdemand,themarketshareofimportsremainedstableorincreased.Moreover,theimportsexercisedconsiderablepricepressure.Thereviewinvestigation,whichwasinitiatedon17December2024,showedthatadjustmentstothequotamanagementwerewarrantedtoensuretheeffectivenessofthemeasureundercurrentmarketcircumstances.ThereviewwasconcludedbytheendofMarch2025withchangescomingintoeffecton1April2025.

NewSFGinvestigationconcerningimportsofmanganeseandsilicon-basedalloyingelements

On13December2024,theCommissionreceivedarequestfromseveralMemberStatestoinitiateaSFGinvestigationonimportsofcertainsiliconandmanganesebasedalloyingelements.TherequestprovidedsufficientevidencethatthetrendinimportsoftheproductsandtheconditionsunderwhichtheyareimportedappeartocallforSFGmeasures.Onthatbasis,theCommissioninitiatedaSFGinvestigationon19December2024.Theinvestigationshouldnormallybeconcludedwithin9months,i.e.September2025,butcanbeextendeduntilNovember2025.

GSPSFGmeasureonIndicarice

ThebilateralSFGmeasuresimposedin2019onimportsofIndicaricefromCambodiaandMyanmarundertheGeneralisedSchemeofPreferences(GSP)expiredinJanuary2022.AreviewtoimplementaGeneralCourtjudgmentwasconcludedinMarch2024whentheCommissionre-imposedSFGmeasuresonimportsofIndicariceoriginatinginCambodiaandMyanmar/Burmafortheperiodofapplicationofthemeasures,i.e.18January2019to18January2022.

1.4.Verificationsininvestigations

TheCommissionensuresthattheinformationusedintradedefenceinvestigationsisaccurateandcompletetoensurelegallysounddecisionsandthecorrectimpositionofmeasures.

In2024,theCommissionverifieddatafrom346companies,148withintheEUand191inthirdcountries.Practicallyalltheseverificationexercisestookplaceonsiteatthecompanies.Onlysevencompanies’datawasverifiedremotely,aprocessintroducedin2020tocopewithCOVID-19travelrestrictionsbutincreasinglynolongerused.

2.ASSERTIVEANDEFFECTIVEAPPLICATIONANDENFORCEMENTOFTDI

2.1.CommitmenttoAssertiveuseoftradedefenceinstruments

InthecontextofthenewCommissiontakingofficein2024,therewasarenewedcommitmenttoassertivelyprotectEUindustryfromunfaircompetitionstemmingfromunfairlytradedimports.InPresidentvonderLeyen’sMissionlettertothethenCommissioner-designateforTradeandEconomicSecurityshereaffirmedtheEU’scommitmenttofreeandfairtradewhilecommittingtoamoreassertivestanceagainstunfaircompetition.

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Inturn,inhishearingbeforetheEuropeanParliament,CommissionerŠefčovičaddresseddefendingEUbusinessesagainstunfairpracticeswherehecommittedtosafeguardalevelplayingfield.Heassuredthat,whiletheEUwillcontinuetochampionfreeandfairtrade,itwouldmakeassertiveuseoftherobustsystemoftradedefenceinstrumentsinalegallysoundwaybybeingfirmandforcefulagainstunfairlytradedimports.

2.2.Registrationofimports

InOctober2024,aspartofitseffortstostrengthenthetradedefenceinstrumentsintacklingtheeffectsofunfaircompetition,includingovercapacity,theCommissionstartedautomaticallyregisteringimportsinallongoinganti-dumpingandanti-subsidyinvestigations.Uptothen,importswereregisteredonlyonreceiptofajustifiedrequestfromtheindustry.Thepurposeofregisteringimportsistoenabletheretroactivecollectionofdutiesifjustifiedandwherespecificlegalconditionsaremet.Thischangeofpracticedoesnotmeanthatretroactiveapplicationofmeasuresisautomatic.Thatdecisionistakenonlyatthedefinitivestageofeachinvestigation.

Themovetoautomaticallyregisterimportshelpsnotonlyinsimplifyingprocedures,butalsoalleviatestheburdenplacedonindustrybyremovingtheneedtopreparerequests.Atthesametime,itprovidestheCommissionwithpreciseandaccurateinformationaboutthesourceandquantitiesofimportsofaproductunderinvestigation,aswellasbroadermarketdevelopments.TheregistrationiscarriedoutbyMemberStatecustomsauthoritiesasdirectedviaindividualImplementingRegulations.

2.3.Monitoring,surveillanceandenforcementofmeasures(seeAnnexesJ,K,M,Q)

Wheretradedefencemeasuresareevadedbyeconomicoperators,thestrengthofthesystemiseroded.Forthatreason,monitoringofimportsaftertheimpositionofmeasuresiscriticalinensuringthemeasureshavethedesiredeffect.

Whereindicationsofcircumventionarefoundorpresentedbyindustry,theCommissiontakespromptactiontoaddresstheissue.CircumventionisdefinedasachangeinthepatternoftradebetweenthirdcountriesandtheEUthatstemsfromapractice,processorworkforwhichthereisinsufficientcauseoreconomicjustification,otherthantheimpositionoftheduty.TheCommissionhasobservedavarietyofcircumventionpractices,thoughthetranshipmentofgoodsthroughthirdcountriesstillappearsthemostcommon.Morecomplexpracticesconcernassemblyprocessesthatrequiresomelevelofindustrialactivitythatmaychangethenatureoftheproductwhileaddingverylimitedvaluetothefinalgoods.ThesefurtherprocessedgoodsarethenimportedintotheEU,normallyunderadifferentcombinednomenclature(CN)heading,henceevadingthepaymentofthedutyinplace.

IftheCommissionhassufficientevidencethatmeasuresarebeingcircumvented,itopensanti-circumventioninvestigations.In2024,theCommissioninitiatedtwoanti-circumventioninvestigations:

•Anti-dumpingmeasuresonimportsofmonosodiumglutamatefromChina,allegedlycircumventedviaMalaysia;and

•Anti-dumpingmeasuresonimportsofgraphiteelectrodesystemsfromChina,viaallegedcircumventionpracticestakingplaceintheEU.

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TheCommissionconcludedthreeanti-circumventioninvestigationsduringthereportingyear.TheCommissionextendedtheanti-dumpingmeasuresagainstimportsofbirchplywoodfromRussiatoTürkiyeandKazakhstanandextendedtheanti-dumpingaswellastheanti-subsidymeasuresagainstimportsofstainless-steelcold-rolledflatproducts(SSCR)fromIndonesiatoTaiwan,TürkiyeandVietnam.IntheseinvestigationstheCommissionfoundthatgoodswerebeingtranshippedviathirdcountries,and,also,thatthemeasureswerebeingcircumventedviafurtherprocessingactivitieswithlimitedaddedvalueintheinvestigatedthirdcountries.

IntheinvestigationregardingimportsofSSCR,inlightoftheseriousnessofthecircumventionpractices,forthepurposeofmonitoring,inadditiontothecompulsorycommercialinvoiceandmillcertificate,adeclarationisrequiredfromtheexportingproducersthatareexemptedfromtheextendedmeasures,statingwhetherthelocationwherethestainlesssteeltoproducetheSSCRwasoriginallymeltedandpoured,wasthecountrysubjecttotheoriginalmeasures,i.e.Indonesia.

In2024,therewascontinuedcooperationbetweentheTDIservices,otherCommissionservices(DGTAXUD),relevantEUagencies(OLAF)andenforcement-orientednationalauthorities(customsauthoritiesinMemberStates)aswellasregularexchangeswiththeUnionindustrytokeeptrackofmarketdevelopments.

RegularexchangestakeplacewithDGTAXUDregardingtheclassificationofgoodssubjecttotradedefenceinstruments(TDI).Inaddition,assoonastherelevantlegislationispublishedintheOfficialJournal,DGTAXUDpromptlyincorporatesthecorrespondingmeasuresintoTARIC(theintegratedTariffoftheEuropeanUnion).ThisensurestheuniformapplicationofTDImeasures,asTARICdataisautomaticallytransmitteddailytotheimportsystemsoftheMemberStates.

WhenevertheCommissionreceivesinformationonirregularitiesfromtheUnionindustry,eitheronanad-hocbasisorintheframeworkofformalcomplaints,itinformsOLAF.Inthesamevein,theCommissionmaintainsregularcontactsonthesematterswithMemberStates’customsauthorities,forexample,bypublishingspecialisedriskwarningsintheEUcommoncustomsriskmanagementsystem.However,giventhatinvestigationsbyOLAForMemberStates’lawenforcementauthoritiesintoabovepracticesareconfidential,nofurtherinformationcanbegiven.OLAFpublishesanannualreportpresentingitsactivitiesofthepreviousyear,aswellasstatisticsofitsinvestigativeperformanceandexamplesofcases.

TheCommissioncarriedoutspecialmonitoringtasksin15investigationsin2024,allofthemrelatingtoanti-dumpingmeasures,12concerningimportsfromChina,2fromIndiaand1fromEgypt.Theex-postmonitoringsystemonsteelandaluminiumimportscontinuedin2024withthedatapublishedmonthlyonthetradesectionoftheCommissionwebsite.

Monitoringofundertakingsalsoformspartoftheenforcementactivities,giventhatundertakingsallowforthesuspensionofADorASmeasures.TheCommissionacceptssuchundertakingswhenitissatisfiedthattheycaneffectivelyeliminatetheinjuriouseffectsofdumpingorsubsidisationandregularlycheckstheexporters’compliancewiththeundertakings.

Atthestartof2024,therewere11undertakingsinforceconcerningtwoproceedings,biodieselfromArgentinaandcitricacidfromChina.Asregardstheundertakingsinbiodiesel,monitoringshowedthattheexportingproducerswerecomplyinginfull.However,regardingcitricacid,theCommissionfoundthatcertainconditionsoftheundertakingsconcerningcitricacidfrom

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ChinawerebreachedbytheChinaChamberofCommerceofMetals,Minerals&ChemicalsImporters&Exporters(‘CCCMC’)andasaresultwithdrewitsacceptanceoftheundertakingsfrom3companiesinMarch2024.

Therewerenoundertakingoffersmadeinanti-dumpinginvestigationsconcludedin2024.Intheanti-subsidyinvestigationconcerningbatteryelectricvehiclesfromChina,severalexportingproducersofferedpriceundertakingswhichwerefoundtobeinsufficienttooffsettheinjurioussubsidisationofChineseexports.Nevertheless,theCommissionremainedopentocontinuingworktofindagreementonWTOcompatibleandeffectivepriceundertakings.Thiscomplexprocesscontinuedfortheremainderof2024.

2.4.JudicialreviewbyEUCourts(AnnexS)

In2024,theGeneralCourtandtheCourtofJusticeissued25judgmentsandordersincasesconcerningtradedefencemeasures.Asinthepreviousyear,theGeneralCourthandeddown14rulingswhereastheCourtofJusticedecidedon10appealsandonerequestforapreliminaryruling.Fewernewcourtproceedingsconcerningtradedefencemeasureswerelodgedin2024(tenintotal)comparedtothepreviousyear(18intotalinyear2023).OutoftennewcourtcasessixactionsforannulmentwerelodgedbeforetheGeneralCourtandthreeappealsandonerequestforapreliminaryrulingbeforetheCourtofJustice.

TheCommissionprevailedinallbutonejudgement(caseT-762/20SinopecChongqingSVWChemicalandOthersvCommission)whichwassubsequentlyappealedbytheCommissionandtheappealiscurrentlypending.

Lastyear’sjurisprudenceconfirmsthediscretionenjoyedbytheCommissioninrelationtothedeterminationofthenormalvaluewhenthereisafindingofsignificantdistortionsaccordingtoArticle2(6a)ofthebasicanti-dumpingRegulation.TheGeneralCourtendorsedtheCommission’santi-circumventionpractice,notablybyupholdingtheapproachthatassemblyoperationsincludecompletionoperationsandconfirmingtheapplicationbyanalogyofArticle13(2)ofthebasicanti-dumpingRegulationtocircumventionofcountervailingdutiesviaassemblyoperationsinthirdcountries(underappeal).Inseveraljudgements,theCourtofJusticeupheldtheCommission’sfindingsonimportantaspectsofthetradedefencepractice,including:

-thatitispossibletoattributethefinancialsupportofathirdcountrytothegovernmentofthecountryoforiginorexportofthesubsidizedgoods,

-thelegalityoftheCommission’spracticeofadjustingcostswhicharenotatarm’slengthunderArticle2(5)ofthebasicRegulation,and

-theapplicationofArticle7(2a)ofthebasicRegulationconcerningmodulationofthelesserdutyruleincaseofrawmaterialdistortionstothefullamountofdumping.

3.SOCIALANDENVIRONMENTALSTANDARDSINTDI

TheEU’scommitmenttohighsocialandenvironmentalstandardswasreflectedinchangesmadetothetradedefencelegislationin2017and2018.

Theintroductionofthespecificdumpingcalculationmethodologyin2017,wherestateinterferencesignificantlydistortsthemarket,meantthatanappropriaterepresentativecountry

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mustbeselectedtoestablishanundistortednormalvalue.Inselectingsuchacountry,theCommissionmayconsiderdifferencesinthelevelsofsocialandenvironmentalprotectionwherethereismorethanonecountrytochoosefrom.

In2024,theCommissionusedthesignificantdistortionsmethodologyinfouranti-dumpinginvestigationswheredefinitivemeasureswereimposed.However,inallthecasestherewasonlyonepotentialrepresentativecountrywhichhadtheappropriateavailabledataandhencetheissueofsocialandenvironmentalstandardsdidnotcomeintoplayintheselectionprocess.

In2018,themodernisationofthetradedefenceinstrumentssawafurtherendorsementoftheEU’scommitmenttosocialandenvironmentalstandards.Sincethen,theCommissiontakescostsofsocialandenvironmentalobligationsintoaccountwhencalculatinganinjurymargin.NowthecostofcompliancewithmultilateralenvironmentalagreementsandInternationalLabourOrganisationConventionsduringthelifetimeofanymeasuresmaybeincludedintheEUindustry’scostsofproduction.TheycanincludetheadditionalfuturecostsassociatedwithcomplyingwiththeEUEmissionsTradingSystem,acornerstoneoftheEU’spolicytocomplywithmultilateralenvironmentalagreements.Thesecostsfeaturedintwoanti-dumpingcasescompletedin2024:ElectrolyticmanganesedioxidesandAlkylPhosphateEsters,bothcasesconcerningChina.Theadditionofthesecostsincreasedthenon-injuriousprices1andhencetheinjurymargins.However,thisimpactsonthefinallevelofmeasuresonlywherethedutiesimposedarebasedoninjurymarginsandin2024onlyintheElectrolyticmanganesedioxidescasewerethedutiesbasedontheinjurymargin.IntheAlkylPhosphateEsterscase,themeasuresimposedwerebasedondumpingmargins2.

Socialandenvironmentalstandardscanalsobeconsideredwhenexaminingundertakingoffers.However,in2024theCommissionreceivednoundertakingoffersinanti-dumpingcasesandintheBEVcasetheundertakingofferswererejectedforotherreasons,soconsiderationofsocialandenvironmentalissuesdidnotariseinthatcontext.

4.ACTIVITIESOFTHEHEARINGOFFICER

TheHearingOfficerplaysacrucialroleinensuringthatinterestedpartiesaffectedbyproceduresandmeasuresunderEUlegislationconcerninginternationaltradecanexercisetheirproceduralrights,includingtherighttobeheard.In2024,theHearingOfficerreceived12requestsforintervention,allofwhichpertainedtotradedefenceproceedings.

Therequestscamefromvariousparties,includingusers(2),exportingproducers(4),Unionindustryrepresentatives(2),athird-countrygovernment(1),andimporters(3).Notably,onecasegeneratedthreerequestsforinterventionfromtwoimportersandanexportingproducer,resultinginthreehearings.Twootherproceedingspromptedtworequestseach.

Theprimaryconcernsraisedbytherequestingpartiesinvolvedadditionaldisclosureorobjectionstofactsandfindings(5requests)andobjectionstotheapplicationofbestfactsavailable(5requests).Insomecases,theHearingOfficerreceivedrequeststhatweremoreappropriatelyaddressedtotheinvestigationdepartments,whichwerethenpromptlyforwardedtotherelevantteams.In2024theHearingOfficerdidnotextendanydeadlines.

1Thepricewhichtheindustryisexpectedtohavechargedundernormalcircumstancesi.e.intheabsenceofdumpedorsubsidisedimports

2Therateofdutyisbasedonthedumpingmargin,unlessalowerratewouldremovetheinjury

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In2024,theHearingOfficerheldthreehearings,allrelatedtothesameproceeding.TheHearingOfficercontinuedtofollowtheestablishedpracticeofencouragingpartiestoraisetheirconcernswiththeCommissionservicesresponsiblefortheinvestigationbeforerequestingahearing.Thisapp