Trade defence investigations are normally initiated by the Commission services on the basis of a complaint lodged by the EU industry. Trade defence measures such as anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures are applied following such an investigation that has shown that, among other elements, the EU industry is suffering injury from the dumped/subsided imports.

 

AD and AS investigations are normally initiated on the basis of a complaint by the Union industry. Only in exceptional circumstances may the European Commission initiate an investigation on its own initiative.

 

Dumped or subsidised imports are considered unfair trade if they have a significant negative impact on the industry of the importing country that produces similar products. So WTO and EU rules provide for the possibility to investigate such matters and to impose duties (please see Chapters 1 and 2).

 

An investigation may result in duties to offset injurious dumping or subsidisation. The duties are imposed on imports from the non-EU country or countries subject to the investigation.

 

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