It is reported that Chinese exporters expressed their deep regret on Sunday at a European Commission's decision to propose anti-dumping duties up to 87% on Chinese made screws and bolts.
The Jiaxing Association of Fastener Import and Export Companies, a Chinese exporters lobby said in a statement released in Brussels that "The decision is fundamentally flawed because the European Commission's own analysis indicates that European manufacturers of these products have not suffered any damage as a result of increased imports of screws and bolts from China."
The association said according to the Commission's analysis, the profitability of the European manufacturers increased 110% in the period between 2003 and 2007. Similar improved trends were shown for the European manufacturers' production levels, sales volumes and value as well as return on investment. Even employments in the European industry increase by 12%.
Mr Zhang Feng deputy secretary of the association said "No matter how hard we look at the European Commission's analysis, we can not see how Chinese exports of fasteners have hurt European manufacturers in any way. He said that they are making better profits than Chinese companies."
He said that "This means that all Chinese exporters will be excluded from the European market by the prohibitive duties while two of the major producers in Europe can continue to import Chinese-made fasteners without any duties. He added that the Chinese industry questions the fairness of two European manufacturers asking for protection against Chinese fasteners when their own Chinese subsidiaries get total exemption from the duties through the backdoor."
Mr Zhang said "The question that arises is why major European producers like Agrati and Celo can continue to export to the EU without any anti-dumping duty while they are, just like other Chinese producers, benefiting from comparatively cheaper labor and alleged state subsidy. He said that there seems to be a big contradiction here unless, of course, they simply want to have their cake and eat it by having protective measures in place against all Chinese producers except them."
Mr Robert MacLean, a trade partner at the law firm of Crowell & Moring in Brussels who represents Chinese exporters, said EU Trade Commissioner Ashton should not forget her pledge to resist protectionism. He said that "Having just warned against protectionist policies in Europe and elsewhere that could exacerbate the current economic difficulties in Europe, her department is proposing to introduce import taxes on citric acid, candles, food ingredients, mandarins and now iron and steel fasteners all coming from China."
Source : Steelguru