May 22, 2025 16:36

The European Commission has launched two parallel investigations into sectors critical to manufacturing and consumer goods supply chains: passenger and light commercial vehicle tyres from China, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin imported from Vietnam.

The tyre case originated from a formal complaint lodged on April 7 by the Coalition Against Unfair Tyre Imports, representing the major European tyre manufacturers. The group alleges that Chinese competitors are selling at artificially low prices, posing a threat to a European industry valued at about €18 billion and employing 75,000 people directly. This would mark the second regulatory clampdown in just a few years: Since 2018, the EU has already enforced countervailing duties on bus and truck tyres from China.

The second investigation targets PET resin with an intrinsic viscosity of 78 ml/g or more — a key raw material for bottles and packaging.
On April 9, PET Europe filed a complaint in Brussels alleging Vietnamese exporters are engaging in below-cost sales.
While the domestic industry is smaller, it remains strategically significant, with 1,600 direct jobs and a market worth more than €4 billion in 2024. The EU has previously set up import barriers against PET from China and India.

Both investigations could remain open for up to 14 months, though the Commission may introduce provisional duties within eight months if sufficient evidence of dumping and harm emerges.

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