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Anti-dumping

A non-EU company is 'dumping' if it exports a product to the EU at a price lower than the normal value of the product. The normal value is either product's price as sold on the home market of the non-EU company, or a price based on the cost of production and profit.

Making an anti-dumping complaint

The European Commission is responsible for investigating dumping claims and imposing measures.

It opens an investigation after receiving a complaint from the European producers of the product concerned. The Commission can also do so on its own initiative.

The anti-dumping investigation

If the Commission is satisfied that the complaint contains enough evidence, it opens an anti-dumping proceeding (investigation) by publishing a notice in the EU's Official Journal

The investigation checks if:

  • there is dumping by the producers in the country/countries concerned
  • the European industry concerned suffers 'material injury'
  • there is a causal link between dumping and injury
  • putting measures in place is not against the European interest

It is only when all four conditions are met that the Commission may put anti-dumping measures in place.

The time limit for the Commission's investigation is 15 months. The results are then published in the Official Journal.

Recent changes to dumping calculation methodology

Since December 2017 the EU has an alternative method to calculate dumped imports if state interference significantly distorts the economy of the exporting country.

In this case, the Commission will instead will use undistorted benchmarks to determine the 'normal value' of the product.  This can apply to all WTO Members where significant market distortions are found. 

To show that distortions exist, the Commission will examine all evidence in any case, as well as prepare country-specific reports. Reports on China and Russia have already been published.

Anti-dumping measures

Anti-dumping measures can be put on imports of specific products if the Commission's anti-dumping investigation justifies it.

These measures are usually in the form of an 'ad valorem' duty. Other measures that can be applied include a fixed or specific amount of duty or, in some cases, a minimum import price.

Price undertakings may also be accepted instead of anti-dumping duties. This is where the exporter agrees not sell products in the EU at prices below a minimum amount. 

If the Commission agrees to an undertaking then the anti-dumping duties will not be collected on those imports. The Commission is not obliged to accept an offer of an undertaking.

The importer in the EU pays the duties and the national customs authority of the EU country collects them. The Commission monitors measures to make sure they are effective and respected by exporters and importers.

Types of trade defence measures

The way forward on anti-dumping

An anti-dumping investigation can be initiated in response to a complaint lodged by European manufacturers affected by dumped imports or at the request of an EU country.

Community producers who are considering lodging an anti-dumping complaint, should contact us.

Reviewing anti-dumping measures

Measures are generally in place for five years and may be reviewed if, for example:

  • the circumstances of the exporters have changed
  • a new non-EU company starts exporting to the EU and requests the calculation of its own dumping margin

Measures end after five years unless the Commission does an expiry review.

Refunding anti-dumping duties

Importers may request a full or partial refund of duties paid when they can show that they paid duties in excess of the actual dumping margin prevailing for their non EU-supplier.

More on Anti-dumping