EU opens anti-dumping probe in Chinese steel cable exports

The EU has opened an anti-dumping probe into alleged unfair practices used by Chinese steel cable exporters, the official EU journal announced yesterday.

The European Commission believes there is "sufficient prima facie evidence" that China is circumventing the EU's anti-dumping measures by transhipping steel ropes and cables via South Korea and Malaysia.

Brussels was alerted to the practice by the EU Wire Rope Industries on behalf of European producers who fear their products are being illegally undercut by Chinese imports which could jeopardise their industry.

"Significant volumes of imports of steel ropes and cables from the Republic of Korea and Malaysia appear to have replaced imports of the (Chinese) product concerned," the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said in the official journal.

In addition "there is sufficient evidence that this increased volume of imports is made at prices" low enough to hurt European industry, it added.

The investigation will be completed within nine months, the commission said.

If the probe finds that the import rules have been circumvented then "anti-dumping duties of an appropriate amount can be levied retroactively from Malaysia and South Korea," the Commission said.