The international legal framework is provided for by the WTO. The relevant EU legislation is the basic anti-dumping regulation and the basic anti-subsidy regulation. For members of the WTO, the national legislation should as a minimum comply with WTO requirements. National legislation may, however, go beyond WTO provisions, that is, set a higher standard for applying measures than that laid down at WTO level. The EU legislation includes two such higher standards:

- the lesser duty rule;
- the Union interest test.

Source: “TDI Trade defence instruments, Anti-dumping & Anti-subsidy - A Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses” by the European Commission