Dumping of wind towers from China highlights the need for adequate trade enforcement - entire EU value chains at risk

• The European Commission has initiated an investigation into the dumping of wind towers on the EU market from China.
• Opening of investigation shows that steel-using sectors also need adequate trade remedies.
• Maintaining and developing the steel-based industrial value chain in Europe is key to both the survival and sustainability of the European steel sector, but also of downstream sectors.

Brussels, 20 October 2020 – The European Commission has today initiated an investigation into the dumping of wind towers on the EU market from China. Wind towers – used to make renewable electricity – are principally built using steel, and the opening of this investigation shows that steel-using sectors also need adequate trade remedies.

“EUROFER welcomes the Commission's initiation of an anti-dumping investigation into the conditions of imports of Chinese wind towers into the EU”, said Axel Eggert, Director General of the European Steel Association (EUROFER). “Global steel trade distortions jeopardise entire EU value chains and hundreds of thousands of jobs in Europe. Europe needs to wake up and take trade defence enforcement to a higher level before it is too late”.

Many types of steel from China are already subject to anti-dumping measures, including on the heavy plate and electrical steels used to build wind towers with dumping margins found to be up to 54.9%[1] and 127.6%[2]  respectively in each case.

“The European wind tower industry is a key user of plate and electrical steels and is an important component of Europe’s renewable energy plans. Our ability to construct our own renewable energy facilities – such as those generated by wind power – is central to Europe’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050, in line with the EU’s Green Deal”, emphasised Mr Eggert.

“Maintaining and developing the steel-based industrial value chain in Europe is key to both the survival and sustainability of the European steel industry, but also of the sectors downstream of it,” added Mr Eggert. “Our value chain is based on a sustainable business model based on free and fair competition. We must not allow our economic, social and environmental values to be undermined by third countries who do not respect these fundamental principles”.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32015R1953&from=EN

[2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32017R0336&from=EN

Notes for editors

Contact
Charles de Lusignan, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, +32 2 738 79 35, (charles@eurofer.be)

About the European Steel Association (EUROFER)
EUROFER AISBL is located in Brussels and was founded in 1976. It represents the entirety of steel production in the European Union. EUROFER members are steel companies and national steel federations throughout the EU. The major steel companies and national steel federations in Switzerland and Turkey are associate members.

The European Steel Association is recorded in the EU transparency register: 93038071152-83.

About the European steel industry
The European steel industry is a world leader in innovation and environmental sustainability. It has a turnover of around €170 billion and directly employs 330,000 highly-skilled people, producing on average 160 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites across 22 EU Member States provide direct and indirect employment to millions more European citizens. Closely integrated with Europe’s manufacturing and construction industries, steel is the backbone for development, growth and employment in Europe.

Steel is the most versatile industrial material in the world. The thousands of different grades and types of steel developed by the industry make the modern world possible. Steel is 100% recyclable and therefore is a fundamental part of the circular economy. As a basic engineering material, steel is also an essential factor in the development and deployment of innovative, CO2-mitigating technologies, improving resource efficiency and fostering sustainable development in Europe.