Global Fastener News

EIFI’s New President Micheau: We Respect Competition But Need an Open Market

John Wolz

European fastener manufacturers need an open market to compete, the new president of the European Industrial Fasteners Institute said of an antidumping complaint on carbon steel fasteners from Asia.

“EIFI has nothing against competition,” Jean-Paul Micheau declared. “Many member companies are involved in many different countries, they expect to compete and they need to operate in an open market. But it is also necessary to defend your interests and when subsidies and other trade imbalances clearly exist, one of the legitimate tools is the antidumping complaint.”

In an interview with Phil Matten, editor of Fastener & Fixing Europe, Micheau predicted that eventually the market will change. “The cost situation in China will inevitably change,” he explained. “It is changing very rapidly now. You only have to look at how salaries increased over the last two years.”

The question is how long change will take. “In the meantime what should our members do?” Michaeu asked. “Raymond Barre used to say, ‘I am a liberal, but not a silly one.’ It is not realistic to expect the market to solve everything.”

Micheau, president of B�llhoff Otalu in France, succeeded Robert Lench as EIFI president last year after Lench had headed the organization for 20 years. Micheau will serve a two-year term.
The decision to launch an antidumping complaint epitomized EIFI’s diversity, Micheau commented. Founded in 1978, EIFI has about 200 members from 14 countries. He described the organization as an “association of associations.”

“You can imagine what that means in reconciling the different sensibilities of our member associations,” Micheau commented. “Look at their member companies: multinational groups, owner managed businesses, family owned businesses, larger and smaller, some very progressive, some traditional. That means big differences in perspective as well as willingness to be open and to share with others.”

The complaint requires proof that dumping takes place, that there is injury to European fastener manufacturers and that the measure would be in the interest of the EU as a whole.

“Our research company prepared an excellent case, and we are sure this has been accepted. To prove dumping is a technical matter. For injury there is more interpretation but we believe we have presented clear evidence to the Commission.”

The complaint is now in the third and “political” phase. “We know the complaint is being considered, but it has not yet been accepted formally, so the official clock has not yet started.” Web: eifi.org

Editor’s Note: More of the interview with the EIFI president will be published in upcoming editions of FIN and F&FE. �2007 FastenerNews.com and Fastener & Fixing Europe