The European Commission is set to launch an anti-dumping investigation into steel track shoe imports from China. The Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of steel track shoes originating in the People’s Republic of China was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 23 August 2024.
The Notice was issued after the EC received a complaint pursuant to Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on protection against dumped imports from countries not members of the European Union alleging that imports of steel track shoes, originating in China, are being dumped and are thereby causing injury to the EU industry.
The complaint was lodged on 12 July 2024 by Duferco Travi e Profilati, and made by the Union industry of steel track shoes under Article 5(4) of the basic Regulation.
The complainant provided evidence that imports of the product under investigation from the country concerned have increased overall in absolute terms and terms of market share.
The evidence provided by the complainant shows that the volume and the prices of the imported product under investigation have had, among other consequences, a negative impact on the quantities sold, the level of prices charged, and the market share held by the Union industry, resulting in substantial adverse effects on the overall performance, the financial situation, and the employment situation of the Union industry.
Duferco Travi claims that imports from China are being sold in the European Union at prices lower than their production costs.
The complainant provided sufficient evidence that there may be raw material distortions in the country concerned regarding the product under investigation. According to the evidence in the complaint, special steel profiles that account for 73 % of the cost of production of the product under investigation are subject to a value-added (VAT) export tax in the country concerned. On the basis of a comparison of prices in the representative international markets, in particular, import prices into Turkey with those in the country concerned, the complaint established that the raw material distortions appear to result in prices significantly below those of representative international markets.
Moreover, it is claimed that this import dumping significantly harms the EU steel industry by undercutting prices, reducing market share, and negatively affecting financial and employment conditions within the sector.
The investigation will determine whether the product under investigation originating in the country concerned is being dumped and whether the dumped imports have caused injury to the Union industry. This investigation will also examine the pricing and costs of steel products from China, including steel track shoes for heavy machinery and conveyor belts.
The investigation of dumping and injury will cover the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. The examination of trends relevant to the assessment of injury will cover the period from 1 January 2021 to the end of the investigation period.
The European Commission may impose anti-dumping duties on imports if it finds evidence of dumping and injury. The investigation is expected to conclude in 14 months, with provisional measures possibly being enforced within eight months.
