Global Fastener News

European Commission Likely to Investigate Carbon Steel Fastener Anti-Dumping Complaint

John Wolz

The European Commission will decide by April 5, 2007, whether to conduct a formal investigation into claims China is dumping imports of certain carbon steel fasteners into Europe.
The EC step toward the antidumping complaint follows months of preliminary groundwork by the European Industrial Fasteners Institute. Officially the complaint was filed by UPIVEB, the Italian fastener manufacturers association which is part of EIFI, filed its complaint in October 2006. After preliminary studies, the EC formally accepted the EIFI complaint on February 19. That initiates a 45-day period to decide on an official investigation. During the period there is no official acknowledgement of the complaint.

If the commission decides to investigate objectors have 10 days to register their interests. The investigation can take up to nine months before the commission must implement or reject preliminary tariffs. The commission must publish definitive tariffs within 15 months.

One observer explained that after months of preparations the EC is almost certain to launch the formal investigation.

The complaint is expected to involve China and possibly Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea and India.

Which fastener product lines would be targeted has not been announced. The main target is likely to be high tensile bolts and socket screws, but commodity codes cited could include small screws, steel fasteners and washers.

The EC process 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.

Sales figures show significant increase in exports from China between 2002 and 2005. Chinese high tensile screw and bolt exports to Europe rose 220% while prices fell 27%.

Among European importers from Asia are the UK’s Anixter and TRfasteners/Trifast, Sweden’s Arvid Nilsson and Bufab, Germany’s W�rth-Gruppe, Reyher, Berrang, and Keller & Kalmbach, and in France, Emile Maurin and Levy-Frey. �2007 FastenerNews.com and Fastener & Fixing Europe