EU probes into Chinese subsidies and imports
Adds latest news on EU tariffs on China-built EVs
Aug 20 (Reuters) -The European Commission on Tuesday proposed final duties of up to 36.3% on imported electric vehicles made in China, as part of the highest profile EU probe of alleged Chinese subsidies which has provoked threats of retaliation from Beijing.
It has also launched investigations into whether Chinese clean tech producers are dumping subsidised goods on EU markets and whether Chinese-owned companies unfairly benefit from subsidies while operating inside the European Union.
The EU executive says its aim is to prevent unfair competition and market distortion.
Here's what you need to know about the investigations:
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The EC said on June 12 it would impose tariffs on imports of EVs made in China over what it said were excessive subsidies. On Aug. 20, it issued draft definitive findings of the investigation and adjusted some of the proposed duty rates.
Based on the proposal, BYD 002594.SZ will face duties of 17.0%, Geely 0175.HK 19.3% and SAIC 36.3%. These are on top of the EU's standard 10% duty on car imports.
Companies deemed by the EU to have cooperated with the investigation will be subject to 21.3% tariffs and those that did not cooperate a rate of 36.3%.
It also set a new reduced rate of 9% for Tesla TSLA.O, lower than the 20.8% it had indicated in July.
Provisional duties came to force on July 5, with the anti-subsidy investigation set to continue until Nov. 2, when definitive duties, typically for five years, could apply.
TINPLATE STEEL
The EC opened on May 16 an anti-dumping investigation into flat-rolled products of iron or steel plated or coated with Chinese tin.
The EU's official journal said the investigation follows a complaint from European steel association Eurofer.
The investigation is to be concluded within 14 months, with the possible imposition of provisional duties in seven to eight months.
WOOD FLOORING IMPORTS
The EC initiated an anti-dumping investigation into wood flooring imports on May 16, following a complaint by the European Parquet Federation.
Under investigation are assembled multilayered wood flooring panels. Panels of bamboo, or with at least the top layer of bamboo, are excluded, as are panels for mosaic floors.
MEDICAL DEVICES
The EC launched a probe into Chinese public procurement of medical devices, the EU's official journal said on April 24.
The investigation is the first under the EU International Procurement Instrument, which aims to prevent countries from unfairly favouring domestic suppliers.
If the Commission finds that European suppliers don't have fair access to the Chinese market, it could place restrictions on Chinese medical device companies bidding in EU public tenders.
The investigation is to be concluded within nine months, although the EC can extend this period by a further five months.
WIND TURBINES
The EU is investigating subsidies received by Chinese suppliers of wind turbines destined for Europe, the bloc's anti-trust commissioner Margrethe Vestager said on April 9.
It will look into wind park development in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria, Vestager said without naming specific companies.
China said the probe was "discriminatory" against Chinese enterprises and endorsed protectionism.
SOLAR PANELS
The EC in May closed its probe into Chinese bidders in a public tender for a solar park in Romania after the companies under investigation, Shanghai Electric 601727.SS and a unit of LONGi Green Energy Technology Co 601012.SS, withdrew from the process.
(Compiled by Chiara Holzhaeuser, Agnieszka Olenska and Philippe Leroy Beaulieu; Edited by Mark Potter, Susan Fenton and Milla Nissi)
</body></html>Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
