On October 17, 2024, the European Commission announced the initiation of an anti-dumping (AD) investigation concerning the imports of screws without heads from China. This action follows a formal complaint submitted by the European Industrial Fasteners Institute on September 2, 2024. The EIFI alleges that the imports have been sold at unfairly low prices, causing significant harm to the EU's domestic industry.
The evidence put forward by the EIFI indicated a noticeable increase in the volume and market share of these imported screws from China. According to their findings, this surge has had detrimental effects on the EU industry, resulting in reduced sales and profitability for local manufacturers. The products in question fall under the CN codes 7318 15 42 and 7318 15 48, which categorize them as fasteners that are critical for various industrial applications.
The investigation will focus on a specific period, analyzing data from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Additionally, an injury assessment will take into account the timeframe from January 1, 2021, until the conclusion of the investigation. This comprehensive review will allow the Commission to thoroughly evaluate the alleged dumping practices and their impact on the European market.
If the investigation concludes that dumping has occurred and caused material injury to the EU industry, the Commission may impose anti-dumping duties on the Chinese imports. This would increase the prices of the affected products, helping to restore fair competition for European manufacturers. The decision will also reflect the EU's broader strategy to protect its industries from unfair trade practices, particularly in light of increasing global competition.
