Since 2001 The European Union has imposed an anti-dumping tariff on energy-saving light bulbs from China.
These products were being dumped on the EU market – which means that because of state intervention or other market distortions in China they were being sold at less than their real value in the European market.
When these duties were due to expire in 2006 EU industry requested an expiry review to determine whether there were grounds for prolonging the duties for a further five years.
That investigation is now complete and the Commission is required to make a recommendation to Member States on whether duties be removed or not.
What will the Commission recommend?
Following discussions within the Commission and with Member States the Commission will recommend that it is in the Community's interest to discontinue these measures in the next year. The Member States now have one month to consider the Commission's proposal.
Why the delay in termination?
This will allow a further period of up to one year in which EU companies can adjust to new patterns of production and trade before the duties are discontinued. This recommendation stands by the fundamental analysis of the Commission’s investigation – which sees it as in the wider Community interest to discontinue the duties - while striving to reflect the legitimate interests of all parties.
On what grounds has the Commission invoked Community Interest in this case?
The EU has made efficient energy use and conservation a key priority. The EU is likely to be able to meet only 25% of its demand for energy saving lightbulbs through domestic production. In the Commission's judgement it is not in the community interest in these circumstances to be adding a significant additional cost to the price of imported products.