EU trade defence: first half of the year marked by tariff measures

In the first half of 2026, the European Commission published no fewer than 112 regulations concerning tariff measures such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties, mainly targeting Chinese exporters but also suppliers from other Asian countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea), America, Africa and Turkey.

By examining the various regulations, we can see an increase in anti-dumping duties introduced as a result of circumvention of existing measures; This is the case, for example, with the Regulation of 9 June which extends the anti-dumping duties on certain fibreglass fabrics originating in China and Egypt and extends the measures to imports from Turkey and Morocco including on so-called installations. « offshore ».

The process, which begins with a complaint from the European producers and continues with a European Union investigation, may seem lengthy (usually between 12 and 15 months). However, where additional duties are introduced, they shall apply as soon as the corresponding Regulation is published. It should be recalled that these duties are added to the Common External Tariff (CET) on imports and that their rates may reach up to 200% for certain products.

Again this year, a wide range of customs chapters are concerned, whether raw materials or finished products. Some examples (not exhaustive):

• Products of the organic and non-organic chemical industries: customs chapters 28, 29, 30 and 38;
• Food products: chapters 16 to 23;
• Mineral products: Chapters 25 and 27 with biodiesel;
• Plastics of Chapter 39 (polyamide thread, resins...);
• Certain wooden articles of Chapter 44 (some parquet floors);
• Ceramics of Chapter 68;
• Metals and their products derived from Chapters 72 to 83 (from steel bars to screws and bolts);
• Certain machinery of Chapter 84 and electrical cables of Chapter 85;
• Transport equipment of Chapter 87 (electric vehicles, bicycles);
• Technical fibres and their fabrics of Chapter 70.

The underlying trend is clear: the EU combines rapid sanction, preventive surveillance and the preparation of new measures. On the one hand, the Commission consolidates existing measures with definitive duties, retroactive collection and extension of scope; On the other hand, it places imports under registration more frequently, which may lead to the subsequent application of duties to transactions already carried out. This is accompanied by a wider strengthening of import controls, including the creation of a specific working group on border controls and import security.

For operators, the message is clear: systematically check the origin, nomenclature, dates of entry into force and review deadlines before any order. Products already covered by a measure can be followed by rapid adjustments, and products under investigation or registration can switch to definitive duties with significant financial effect. In this context, Commission publications are still the most reliable tool for commercial security and cost control.

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