EU proposes watering down import duties on Chinese glass fibre / Industry associations welcome move but demand measures be completely slashed

The new proposal also excludes yarns for woven mats from the proceedings.

The move has been welcomed by the European Plastics Converters (EuPC, Brussels / Belgium; www.eupc.org), who nevertheless cautioned that “the impact of such duties will seriously damage composites production and should not be underestimated.” The duties had been a bone of contention between the EU and Europe’s industry associations since they were first imposed, with the latter advocating that they should not have been imposed at all. “With an estimated number of 10,000 companies across Europe and around 150,000 employees, such duties will lead to negative consequences for the national economies and employment creation and retention,” according to EuPC.

It is for this reason that the two groups have called on interested parties to get in touch with their national representatives ahead of an upcoming 13 January EU 27 meeting, when the latest proposal is due for discussion, in order to forestall a passing of the washed down measures.