The European Commission has announced that the European Union has imposed tariffs on imports of aluminum alloy wheels from Morocco as part of a new anti-dumping measure.
The Commission justified this decision by stating it was necessary to “protect the producers of these products within the EU and defend 16,600 jobs” from what it described as “unfair trade practices.”
The same source explained that “an investigation revealed that the Moroccan government systematically supports its automotive sector through subsidies that violate World Trade Organization rules, including grants, preferential loans, as well as tax exemptions and reductions.”
The investigation, referenced by the same source, also claimed that “China provided financial contributions to one of the Moroccan exporting producers within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and it was proven that these unfairly subsidized imports harmed the European industry for the same product.”
According to the European Commission, the tariffs imposed on these aluminum wheels from Morocco reflect the EU’s determination to fully utilize trade defense tools to protect its industry and ensure a level playing field globally.
It also noted that “the tariffs range from 5.6% for the product benefiting from Moroccan support, to 31.4% for products benefiting from both Moroccan and Chinese financial support within the Belt and Road Initiative.”
The European Commission’s statement further explained that “these new tariffs are in addition to anti-dumping duties already imposed on the same product from Morocco on January 12, 2023, ranging from 9% to 17.5%, as well as other anti-dumping measures imposed on aluminum road wheels imported from China.”
The source referred to a similar procedure carried out by the EU in 2023 against dumping practices by non-EU countries, including Morocco, following an investigation triggered by a complaint filed by the European Wheel Manufacturers Association (EUWA) in 2021. A provisional list for imposing tariffs on aluminum wheels from Morocco was published in 2022.
The same source mentioned that when the decision to impose tariffs on the product was made, both the European Wheel Manufacturers Association and the Moroccan company (Deca), along with the Moroccan government, were notified.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.