The European Commission is considering opening an official investigation into imports of specific construction materials originating from several Balkan countries over suspicions that they utilize low-cost Chinese glass fibre subject to EU anti-dumping duties.
According to people familiar with the matter, the probe will focus on open mesh fabrics, including products integrated into thermal insulation systems. The case emerges as the European Commission continues to step up pressure on low-cost Chinese imports, which contribute to the European Union’s record trade deficit with China of 1 billion euros per day.
Addressing Unfair Trade Practices and Market Distortion
The Commission launched negotiations with Beijing in June to rebalance trade ties, aiming to secure tangible results by October. EU Trade Commissioner Maroลก ล efฤoviฤ is expected to travel to China in October as part of those diplomatic efforts. At the same time, the Commission has warned that it would deploy its trade defence instruments before the deadline to counter low-cost Chinese imports, citing unfair practices and strategies used to circumvent existing EU tariffs.
Open mesh fabrics are often manufactured with Chinese glass fibre, which EU authorities have previously accused Chinese producers of selling at unfairly low prices on the European market, causing injury to domestic manufacturers. The European Union has targeted glass fibre with additional duties several times in recent years, including shipments from Egypt produced by Chinese firms. However, Chinese producers are suspected of circumventing those anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties by relying on local manufacturers in several Balkan countries to assemble finished construction materials using low-cost glass fibre imports.
Industrial Overcapacity and Policy Frameworks
The European Union currently produces around 1 million tonnes of melted glass annually from installations operating across eight countries, including Germany, France, and Italy. According to Glass Fibre Europe, the association representing the industry in Brussels, Chinese glass fibre overcapacity exceeds total European market demand by more than 100 percent, raising concerns of further harm to European producers unless trade defence measures are strengthened.
Over the past year, the number of cases involving alleged Chinese unfair trade practices across several industrial sectors has increased, while the Commission has faced criticism over the duration of its investigations. At a summit in mid-June, EU leaders gave the Commission a mandate to review and update its regulatory toolbox. While current regulations allow authorities to address practices on a product-by-product basis, additional safeguard measuresโincluding tariffs and quotasโremain under consideration to protect the European chemicals sector from intense competition. The Commission was contacted for comment but did not reply. As regulatory discussions progress, the oversight of glass fibre imports remains a key component of ongoing policy considerations.
