In response to the EU’s counter-subsidy investigation on China’s data card (also known as wireless wide area network modem) on the 16th, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Yao Jian said in an interview that the EU’s investigation of China’s data cards was conducted simultaneously with anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures. The practice is extremely rare in trade relief practices among members of the World Trade Organization. The Chinese public and the industry are strongly dissatisfied. The Chinese side expresses its grave concern and reserves the right to take measures within the framework of the WTO rules.
According to reports, the EU launched an anti-dumping and safeguard investigation on China's data cards on June 30, involving about 4.1 billion U.S. dollars in exports from Chinese companies. This case is the first investigation of anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures taken by the European Union for the same product exported from China at the same time. It is also the largest trade remedy investigation in China involving the most cases to date.
Yao Jian pointed out that the data cards are high-tech products that are constantly being replaced by new ones. Chinese products have promoted technological progress and created new markets, and have also brought practical benefits to EU consumers.
“The EU will only abuse the trade remedy measures to protect the interests of a company in one member country. This practice will not only disrupt the normal trade order, harm the interests of the EU consumers, but also be a comprehensive strategic partnership with China and Europe. It is contrary to the deepening economic and trade friendly cooperation," said Yao Jian.
He expressed the hope that the EU respects relevant laws and facts, fulfills the anti-trade protectionist commitments made by the heads of its member states, and avoids practices that harm China-EU economic and trade relations and the EU’s own economy.
It is worth noting that, also yesterday, the EU announced that it imposed a temporary anti-dumping tax of up to 43.6% on glass fiber imported from China. The EU published this decision in the EU official communique that day. The EU’s provisional anti-dumping measures usually last no longer than six months. At the same time, the EU's anti-dumping investigation procedure will continue, and EU member states will eventually decide whether to impose a five-year formal anti-dumping tax.