This measure is a necessary step to improve the competitive conditions on the EU market in view of the unjustifiably low prices of Chinese parquet imports, which are causing significant overcapacity and structural distortions in the market, the FEP informs.
The Commission's investigation follows a formal complaint lodged by the FEP on behalf of major EU producers from most of the EU Member States where parquet is manufactured. The complaint contains detailed evidence of the dumping practices of the Chinese producers and their negative impact on the European industry, which led to the material injury. It also provides a comprehensive analysis of the numerous market distortions in China that allow Chinese producers to compete unfairly on the EU market.
"This investigation is a necessary step to take action against unfair parquet imports from China. Volumes enter the EU market at prices that are significantly lower than those normally charged by EU producers. We have provided the Commission with detailed evidence of this unfair pricing behaviour by Chinese exporters, which is made possible by the high overcapacity in China and the country's generally distorted economy," comments FEP Managing Director Isabelle Brose.
The European Commission will now conduct an objective, in-depth investigation to assess the extent of Chinese dumping practices and the need for safeguard measures to create a level playing field in the EU market. Such measures could take the form of additional ad valorem (or fixed) anti-dumping duties and could be imposed retroactively if it is found that the Chinese producers would decide to accelerate and increase their imports into the EU before the imposition of the provisional anti-dumping measures.
FEP and the parquet manufacturers in the EU are committed to cooperate fully with the Commission and to provide additional evidence of the dumping practices of Chinese exporters and their negative impact on the EU industry during the investigation process.
