The United Kingdom’s Trade Remedies Authority has announced the opening of an anti-dumping investigation into aluminium extrusions originating in China.

The investigation will cover aluminium bars, rods, profiles, tubes and pipes that entered the UK market in the period under investigation.

In February 2020, the European Commission opened an investigation into aluminium extrusions imported from China to the European Union, resulting in definitive duties of 21.2%-32.1% on March 31, 2021. However, following the complete withdrawal of the UK from the EU January 1, 2021, the UK market ceased to be covered by EU trade defense measures. A new complaint has been made to the UK authorities, whose Trade Remedies Authority will carry out the investigation.

“Hydro welcomes the decision of the UK authorities to open an investigation into imports of aluminium extrusions from China. A fair and thorough examination will allow UK authorities to take the actions they will deem most appropriate to ensure a level playing field for producers and a competitive market for customers,” said Paul Warton, Hydro Extrusions Executive Vice President.

Anti-dumping is a technical instrument to defend domestic producers against unfair trade and international distortions of competition and is a tool based on the rules of the World Trade Organization.

Should the investigation conclude that aluminium extrusions from China have indeed been sold in the UK market at prices so low that they can be considered dumping and causing injury to domestic producers, the UK authorities will be able to impose anti-dumping duties to re-establish a level playing field.

The investigation is expected to be concluded in the next 12 months.

Source: Hydro