The European Commission has initiated an anti-dumping proceeding to investigate Chinese hardwood plywood imports. According to the Greenwood Consortium's complaint, the Consortium considers the Union's economy to be damaged by dumped imports originating in the People's Republic of China. According to the Commission, the investigation concerns plywood, made exclusively of veneers (other than bamboo and okoumé), with a thickness of 6 mm or less, with at least one outer layer of tropical wood or of wood other than coniferous wood, and made of wood of the types of subheadings 4412 31, 4412 33 and 4412 34, whether or not covered or surface-coated. According to the announcement, the application contains sufficient evidence of significant dumping margins and a market distortion that has a negative impact on European producers.

The investigation that has been initiated will now examine whether the product under investigation is dumped and whether the Union industry is injured by the dumped imports. The investigation of dumping and injury covers the period from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The investigation of developments relevant to the injury analysis covers the period from January 1, 2021 to the end of the investigation period.

Forgetting about the pro’s?

If this is confirmed, further examination will be carried out to determine whether the imposition of measures would not be contrary to the Union interest. That is precisely the subject of a heated debate within the European industry. The applicant, Greenwood Consortium, was founded by nine European producers - originally to curb the illegal import of Russian birch plywood via third countries. However, according to the Plywood Trade Interest Alliance, recently founded by 15 importers, the general suspicion of all Chinese hardwood plywood products seems over the top. Critics assume that there is a deliberate concentration on Chinese companies, while other potential market distorters are ignored. In addition, the comparison with Turkey appears to be flawed, which means that the dumping margins are exaggerated. There are also doubts as to whether the analysis of the damage caused took into account all the forces currently influencing the market. The advantages of Chinese goods for the EU market are also ignored. The PTIA therefore warns against inappropriate protectionism, which could harm the industry even in the investigation phase, as European manufacturers would not be able to supply the quantities required in the market and this could lead to a shift in demand towards other products.

More details concerning the investigation you can find here.