Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Half a million EU jobs safeguarded by EU trade defence in 2023.
Trade defence tools recreate an essential function in protecting EU jobs by promoting fairness and a level playing field, according to the 2023 Report on EU Trade Defence Activities, assumed today on 24 Sep 2024.
A total of 182 trade defence standards were in place in the EU at the end of 2023, including 156 anti-dumping actions, 25 anti-subsidy measures, and one safeguard action. This represents a nearly 40% growth compared to 2018 when there were 133 measures in place. Twice as many new investigations were undertaken in 2023 compared to 2022. This significant growth in activity highlights the Commission’s resolve to robustly deal with increasing instances of unfair trade.
What industries benefit from EU trade defence measures?
The number of EU jobs shielded by these measures also improved dramatically, from 365,000 in 2018 to almost 500,000 direct employment at the end of 2023. Industrial sectors supported by the measures in place include strategic ones such as wind energy, solar glass and optic fibres; these are critical for the EU’s green and digital transitions. Also covered are multiple sectors with a powerful small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) presence – ceramics, for example – which are especially vulnerable to unfair trading practices.
Why did the EU investigate Chinese electric vehicles?
Additionally, the report highlights the need for action, such as the initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation on battery electric vehicles from China, to shield green tech sectors from unfair trade. Finally, the report indicates that the EU Commission continued to rigorously protect the EU industry from unfair defensive actions undertaken by third countries, thus helping to ensure continued access to third-country markets.
How does the EU support SMES against unfair competition?
SMEs are weaker due to unfair competition. Throughout 2023, the EU Commission prioritised and stepped up efforts to help them tackle unjust competition from dumped and subsidised imports. This includes a helpdesk, a reliable webpage, practical assistance in examinations, detailed guidance, as well as several details and training programmes. The report also emphasises those manufacturing sectors in the EU with an increased proportion of SMEs that successfully use and profit from the EU’s trade defence efforts, including the ceramics, bicycle, and trout industries.
Ensuring the significance of trade defence measures remains essential for the Commission as it doubles down on embarking the increasingly complex circumvention practices. This entails enhanced monitoring of trade defence measures in place, as well as practical action against ever-evolving circumvention methods by third countries. Accordingly, more than one-fifth of the trade actions currently in place specifically tackle evasion by economic operators.
