The People’s Republic of China’s aluminium trade group denied dumping allegations by their counterparts in the European Union, responding in a statement that it is being unfairly punished for “internal” factors occurring at the complaining companies.
“China’s aluminum extrusion products have not caused damage to the EU’s relevant industries and there is no dumping in Europe,” said the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association in a press release, going on to explain that China’s aluminium producers are greatly aided by cutting-edge smelting technology and limits on costs.
Voicing “firm opposition” to the allegations leveled at them, the CNIA said the government ought to respond to defend the “legitimate rights and interests” of their country’s aluminium exporters.
The European Commission announced an investigation into the charges a week ago, and CNIA’s vice chair and an independent non-executive director at China Zhongwang Wen Xianjun responded at the time that Chinese aluminium exporters would be organized and “actively respond” to the allegations.
Violating free-trade policies “will not only harm the interests of Chinese exporting companies but also hurt the interests of downstream users and related industries in Europe,” argued the association in the press release.
“It is hoped that the European Commission will respect the facts, listen to the opinions of various parties and make a fair ruling.”
The Commission announced the investigation on February 14 as part of its regularly-published journal. The EC’s investigation is the product of a complaint by industry trade group European Aluminum, who made the complaint on behalf of seven aluminium extrusion producers.
“The evidence provided by the complainant shows that the volume and the prices of the imported product under investigation have had, among other consequences, a negative impact on the quantities sold and on the level of prices charged as well as on the market share held by the Union industry, resulting in substantial adverse effects on the overall performance of the Union industry,” the EC explained in a note announcing the investigation.