A total of 199 trade defence measures were in place in the EU at the end of last year, according to the Commission’s 2024 report on the EU’s trade defence activities adopted today. The Commission initiated 33 new investigations in 2024 – the highest number of new cases in a calendar year since 2006. Although many of the measures in place and new investigations concerned steel products, as in years past, over a third of new investigations launched last year concerned the chemical sector.
The Commission’s anti-subsidy investigation into battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China was perhaps the most economically significant new case in 2024. Through that investigation and the resulting countervailing duties, the Commission showcased its commitment to the rigorous application of EU and WTO rules.
Protecting European jobs – and helping SMEs
The number of jobs protected by the EU’s trade defence measures in 2024 increased exponentially – from almost half a million direct jobs at the end of 2023 to over 625,000 by December 2024,with the measures on BEVs alone protecting over 115,000 jobs. This increase in activity underlines the Commission’s continued resolve to tackle unfair trade.
Moreover, the Commission decided in October 2024 to automatically register imports in all anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations to detect sharp increases in imports of products under investigation ahead of the imposition of the measures and to then impose duties retroactively. This is a clear signal that the EU means business when tackling unfair competition from imports, including overcapacity.
Throughout 2024, the Commission’s trade defence services engaged in extensive communication and information activities, notably to help small and medium-sized enterprises navigate the complexities of trade defence. Overall, the Commission’s trade defence activity in 2024 demonstrated its commitment to fair trade, transparency, and the protection of EU industry and jobs.
Enforcing the EU’s trade defence measures
Ensuring the effectiveness of existing trade defence measures remains crucially important for the Commission as it continues to fight increasingly complex circumvention practices. Monitoring of import levels and market developments – together with industry – continued throughout 2024.
During the year, anti-circumvention investigations resulted in two measures being extended to stamp out duty evasion through instances of transhipment, both involving more than one other country. Anti-dumping measures on imports of birch plywood from Russia were extended to Türkiye and Kazakhstan, and anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on imports of stainless-steel cold-rolled flat products (SSCR) from Indonesia were extended to Taiwan, Türkiye and Vietnam.
For more information
43rd Annual Trade Defence Report
Infographic on 2024 State of Play
Quote:
“2024 was a landmark year for the EU’s trade defence activity. The Commission initiated 33 new investigations – a record number of new cases for any year dating back to 2006. The narrative on trade defence activity was largely dominated by the economically important and much publicised anti-subsidy investigation into battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China. Through that investigation, the Commission showcased its commitment to the rigorous application of EU and WTO rules.”
Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security