The European Commission signaled its intention to apply definitive antidumping duties of up to 89.8% on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners from China, Fastener + Fixing Magazine reports.

On November 16, the EC published its General Final Disclosure Document for the AD676 case on Chinese fastener imports. The document calls for AD duties ranging from 23.9% to 51.5% on three specific exporting companies.  Other “cooperating exporting companies (listed within the Annex in the document)” could see AD duties of 41.8%, while other companies face duties of 89.8%, Fastener + Fixing reports.

“Whilst this is a disclosure of the European Commission’s intentions, rather than the final regulation, it does show that the Commission intends to apply definitive duties,” according to Fastener + Fixing.

If confirmed in the final regulation, duties will apply to the products cited in the Disclosure “originating from the People’s Republic of China” – regardless of the country from which consigned and imported to the European Union. 

The products involved are currently classified under CN codes 7318 12 90, 7318 14 91, 7318 14 99, 7318 15 58, 7318 15 68, 7318 15 82, 7318 15 88, ex 7318 15 95 (TARIC codes 7318 15 95 19 and 7318 15 95 89), ex 7318 21 00 (TARIC codes 7318 21 00 31, 7318 21 00 39, 7318 21 00 95 and 7318 21 00 98) and ex 7318 22 00 (TARIC codes 7318 22 00 31, 7318 22 00 39, 7318 22 00 95 and 7318 22 00 98). 

The disclosure mentioned the potential for any retrospective action.

“The Commission considers that one of the legal conditions under Article 10(4) of the basic Regulation is not met and therefore the duties should not be levied retroactively on the registered imports,” the document states. “Thus, the registration of imports should be discontinued.” 

The AD676 case schedule on the EC website sets a target date of February 17, 2022, according to Fastener + Fixing.