The European Commission has formally opened anti-dumping proceedings against Chinese imports of passenger car and light truck tyres. This follows the initial announcement reported earlier by Tyre News Media on 20 May (read the original report here).
The new case, designated AD733, stems from a complaint filed by the "Coalition Against Unfair Tyre Imports." It targets tyres under HS code 40111000—a product group that made up more than 20% of China’s tyre exports to the EU in 2024.
The coalition alleges that Chinese producers are selling tyres in the EU at unfairly low prices, damaging domestic manufacturers. This echoes the group’s successful push in 2017 for anti-dumping duties on Chinese truck and bus tyres.
With around 75,000 people employed across 14 EU Member States, the tyre manufacturing sector argues that unregulated imports distort market conditions and risk jobs, innovation, and capital investment.
The European Commission will assess four main elements:
▪ Evidence of dumping by Chinese exporters
▪ Whether the EU industry has suffered material injury
▪ A direct link between the two
▪ Whether duties are in the broader EU interest
The role of Chinese state subsidies will also be investigated to determine if they contribute to unfair competitive advantages.
The investigation is expected to last up to 14 months. Provisional anti-dumping duties could be introduced after eight months if early findings support the complaint.
Possible outcomes include:
▪ No action if the evidence is lacking
▪ Provisional duties lasting up to nine months
▪ Definitive duties, which may be either percentage-based or a fixed amount per tyre
The complaint may also be withdrawn, which would end the proceedings.
The EU market for passenger and light truck tyres was valued at over €18 billion in 2024. Trade measures could significantly affect pricing and supply dynamics, impacting both manufacturers and the wider automotive sector.
Chinese exporters are being urged to register with the Commission within seven days of the case filing and avoid sudden pricing or volume shifts. Such changes could factor into injury assessments and influence the severity of any penalties imposed.
The EU already applies anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties to Chinese truck and bus tyres. This new case marks an extension of trade defence action into other key tyre categories, suggesting increasing concern over low-cost imports and the broader issue of “budgetisation” across European markets.
Trade defence measures like this one are increasingly intertwined with the health of domestic innovation ecosystems. For the tyre industry, shielding local producers from price pressures may help protect long-term investment in EV-specific designs, connected technologies, and sustainable manufacturing processes. As global competition intensifies, trade policy is emerging as a crucial factor in safeguarding Europe's capacity to lead in smart, green tyre innovation.
Tagged with: EU anti-dumping case, Chinese tyre imports, passenger car tyres, light truck tyres, tyre trade dispute, tyre industry regulation, AD733, tyre import duties, EU tyre manufacturers
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