MARIO CONSERVA (FACE SECRETARY GENERAL): “THE EU IS GIVING MORE ATTENTION TO ALUMINIUM TRANSFORMERS AND USERS, NOW WE NEED FURTHER EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO SUPPORT THE LIGHT METAL EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL CHAIN AND ITS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”
ROME, 14 SEPT- As long desired by FACE (Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe), the European Union has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into flat rolled products and aluminium extrusions originating from China. Therefore, the 24th of August the European Commission announced that aluminium extrusions imported into the EU from the RPC will be subject to registration. Whether the aforementioned investigation confirms the presence of anti-dumping practices, from March 2021, the EU may consequently apply import duties against Chinese products. This law will enter into force on the 13th of October with retroactive effect from the 24th of August and has been officially presented by Ursula Von Der Leyen on the Official Journal of the European Union. The Commission is analysing further measures concerning the import of other types of light alloy semi-finished products, focusing on rolled products, which already have been closely monitored for some time.
FACE welcomes this procedural measure as it finally underlines EU’s commitment to protecting the European aluminium industry; this measure has been spurred by many European primary extrusion companies, among them several Italian FACE associates. Indeed, FACE calls on the European leaders to hold their position, especially today during the EU-China leaders’ meeting, whose main participants will be the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Council President Charles Michel, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the German Chancellor and President of the Council of the European Union Angela Merkel and, of course, the President Xi Jinping for the Chinese side.
Mario Conserva, FACE Secretary-General, also argues: “Lately, China has pursued an industrial policy aimed at creating production overcapacities in aluminium, which is not only damaging the European manufacturing system, but also offsetting climate efforts of responsible countries by unnecessary massive CO2 emissions linked to overproduction. Recently, researches have shown that over the last 18-20 years the import of aluminium semi-products into the EU has grown up to 50 times, mostly due to Chinese dumping practices. China is attacking our industry, distorting trade rules and sabotaging the global fight against climate change”.
Furthermore, Mr. Conserva affirms: “We have protected the interests of the European downstream aluminium industry for years; hence we hope that further actions will take place as soon as possible. Firstly, we suggest the rapid elimination of the 6% duty on the import of raw aluminium, which represents an extra cost of more than one billion euros per year for the downstream industry, since the European primary aluminium production barely covers 30% of the domestic demand. On the other hand, we highly value green aluminium, that is produced with low carbon content and in respect of the overall cycle, and we support its recognition; for this reason, we believe that virtuous producers should be rewarded, for example adopting appropriate tariff measures. Besides, we must not forget that Chinese aluminium is produced with energy that often comes from coal-fired power plants, its CO2 footprint is up to 8 times higher than the one deriving from hydroelectric-power plants production.”
In conclusion, Mr. Conserva declares: “Talking about sustainability, the aluminium sector offers an ideal material for the low carbon economy, as long as we make the right choices.”
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