European Commission imposes anti-dumping duties on glass fibre to block Chinese "Belt and Road" tariff evasion

The European Commission imposes anti-dumping duties on glass fibre from Egypt and Bahrain to stop Chinese firms from bypassing EU trade tariffs.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 8:55 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Euronews

Closing the "Made in China" Loophole

The European Commission has intensified its trade war against unfair subsidies by targeting Chinese glass fibre producers operating outside of China’s borders. In a decisive move on Wednesday, Brussels imposed anti-dumping duties on products originating from Egypt, Bahrain, and Thailand. This action confirms the EU’s strategy to neutralize the Belt and Road Initiative’s role in facilitating tariff evasion, where Chinese firms relocate production to third countries to sidestep the "made in China" label and its associated trade penalties.

A Decadelong Struggle for Market Stability

The battle over glass fibre—a critical component for the EU’s wind turbine and renewable energy sectors—dates back to 2010. After the initial imposition of duties on direct Chinese imports, firms strategically established factories in Egypt and Bahrain to resume low-cost exports to the bloc. By 2024, these indirect imports had captured 24% of the EU market, with Egyptian production alone accounting for 18%. This long-term "predatory strategy" has forced the Commission to look beyond national borders to maintain the integrity of its trade defenses.

Tariff Structures and Industry Skepticism

The newly confirmed tariffs are set between 11% and 25.4% of the product’s value. While Ludovic Piraux, President of Glass Fibre Europe, welcomed the investigation as an "important signal," he cautioned that the current measures remain insufficient. Industry experts argue that the level of Chinese investment and state support in these third-country hubs allows for pricing that still undercuts European manufacturers, suggesting that the current duty percentages may not be high enough to restore a truly level playing field.