Half a million EU jobs protected by EU trade defence in 2023
Trade defence tools play an essential role in protecting EU jobs by promoting fairness and a level playing field, according to the 2023 Report on EU Trade Defence Activities, adopted today.
A total of 182 trade defence measures were in place in the EU at the end of 2023, including 156 anti-dumping measures, 25 anti-subsidy measures, and one safeguard measure. This represents a nearly 40% increase compared to 2018, when there were 133 measures in place. Twice as many new investigations were launched in 2023 compared to 2022. This significant increase in activity underlines the Commission’s resolve to robustly deal with rising instances of unfair trade.
The number of EU jobs protected by these measures also increased dramatically, from 365,000 in 2018 to almost 500,000 direct jobs at the end of 2023. Industrial sectors defended by the measures in place include strategic ones such as wind energy, solar glass and optic fibres; these are crucial for the EU’s green and digital transitions. Also covered are numerous sectors with a significant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) presence – ceramics, for example – which are particularly vulnerable to unfair trading practices.
Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for action, such as the initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation on battery electric vehicles from China, to protect green tech sectors from unfair trade.
Finally, the report shows that the Commission continued to rigorously defend EU industry from unfair defensive actions launched by third countries, thus helping to ensure continued access to third country markets.
Helping SMEs tackle unfair trade
SMEs are more vulnerable to unfair competition. Throughout 2023, the Commission prioritised and stepped-up action to help them tackle unfair competition from dumped and subsidised imports. This includes a helpdesk, a dedicated webpage, practical assistance in investigations, detailed guidance, as well as several information and training programmes.
The report also highlights those manufacturing sectors in the EU with a high proportion of SMEs that successfully use and benefit from the EU’s trade defence measures, including the ceramics, bicycle, and trout industries.
Proper enforcement crucial to effectiveness of EU’s measures
Ensuring the effectiveness of trade defence measures remains key for the Commission as it doubles down on tackling the increasingly complex circumvention practices.
This entails improved monitoring of trade defence measures in place, as well as effective action against ever-evolving circumvention practices by third countries. Accordingly, more than one-fifth of the trade measures currently in place specifically tackle evasion by economic operators.
In 2023 alone, four out of twelve new investigations took place into suspected cases of circumvention resulting in the extension of measures to the other third countries. Moreover, two existing measures were extended to additional countries to address transhipment practices. There was also an anti-absorption investigation – looking into producers who lower their prices to ‘absorb’ the duties imposed on them – which resulted in a significant increase in the original duties imposed by the EU.
