The EU started anti-subsidy investigation in 1996 with 1 investigation, then spiked to 19 cases in 1999. In recent years, the number of anti-subsidy investigations initiated by the EU is hardly too large.

 

Figure 1: Anti-subsidy investigations initiated and imposed by the EU

Source: WTO data

 

Countries subject to the most anti-subsidy measures by the EU

 

India and China are the two countries with the most anti-subsidy investigations by the EU, accounting for 24% and 18% of the total number of anti-subsidy investigations initiated by the EU, respectively.

 

Table 1: Top countries with the most anti-subsidy investigations by the EU (1995-2021)

	Investigations initiated	Measures imposed
India	22	14
China	17	10
Indonesia	8	3
South Korea	7	2
Chinese Taipei	6	3
Thailand	5	1
Malaysia	4	2
Turkey	3	1
USA	3	1
Total	75	37

Source: WTO data

 

Product groups subject to the most anti-subsidy measures by the EU

 

In anti-subsidy investigations, base metals was the product subject to the most anti-subsidy duties in the EU (accounting for 28% of total cases), followed by plastics, rubber (accounting for 20%).

 

Table 2: Commodities subject to the most anti-subsidy measures by the EU

Items/Commodities	Number of cases subject to anti-subsidy duties	Percentage (%)
Base metals and articles	13	28%
Resins, plastics and articles; rubber and articles	9	20%
Textiles and articles	5	11%
Articles of stone, plaster; ceramic prod.; glass	5	11%
Machinery and electrical equipment	5	11%
Mineral products	3	7%
Live animals and products	2	4%
Products of the chemical and allied industries	2	4%
Paper, paperboard and articles	1	2%
Vehicles, aircraft and vessels	1	2%

Source: WTO data

 

Source: Center for WTO and International Trade