On November 15, 2024, the European Commission issued an announcement. At the request of EUROFER, representing the EU's stainless - steel seamless - tube industry, an anti - dumping investigation was launched on stainless - steel seamless tubes originating from China. The products under investigation are stainless - steel seamless tubes with a circular cross - section having an outer diameter not exceeding 406.4 mm and a non - circular cross - section having an outer perimeter not exceeding 406.4 mm, covering products under EU customs codes 7304 41 10, 7304 41 90, 7304 49 10 and 7304 49 90.

EUROFER pointed out in its application that in recent years, the export volume of Chinese stainless - steel seamless tubes to the EU has increased significantly. Data shows that in 2021, China exported 52,000 tons of such products to the EU, which increased to 68,000 tons in 2022 and further climbed to 85,000 tons in 2023, showing a remarkable upward trend. At the same time, the export price has been continuously declining. The average export price was 2,800 euros per ton in 2021, and it dropped to 2,400 euros per ton in 2023, a decrease of 14.3%. They believe that the large - scale influx of Chinese products has caused material damage to the EU's local stainless - steel seamless - tube industry.

However, this view is not shared by everyone. Li Qiang, a relevant person in charge of the China Iron and Steel Association, said: "The Chinese stainless - steel seamless - tube industry has always adhered to the principle of fair competition in the international market. The increase in exports mentioned by the EU is, on the one hand, due to the natural growth of the global market demand. Chinese enterprises, with their production efficiency and product - quality advantages, are reasonably expanding their overseas market share while meeting domestic demand. On the other hand, the EU itself also has certain problems in the development planning and market regulation of the relevant industry. The difficulties in the industry's development cannot be simply attributed to the export of Chinese products."

There are also different voices within the EU. Some European stainless - steel product processing entrepreneurs,such as Hans Müller from Germany, complained: "Chinese stainless - steel seamless tubes are of high quality and reasonable price, and they are an important source of raw materials for us to produce high - quality stainless - steel products. If the EU imposes high anti - dumping duties on Chinese products, it will directly lead to a significant increase in our production costs and weaken our competitiveness in the global market." According to relevant industry institutions, if anti - dumping measures are implemented, the production costs of relevant stainless - steel product processing enterprises in the EU may increase by 15% - 20%, forcing some enterprises to face the risk of production cuts or even closures.

From the perspective of the global stainless - steel trade pattern, China is a major producer and exporter of stainless steel, and the EU is one of the important overseas markets. In 2023, the total export volume of Chinese stainless - steel seamless tubes was 550,000 tons, of which the export volume to the EU accounted for 15.5%. If the anti - dumping investigation finally decides to impose high anti - dumping duties, it will undoubtedly be a major blow to the Chinese stainless - steel industry. The order volume of relevant Chinese enterprises has already been affected. Some enterprises expect that the export orders to the EU in the first half of 2025 will decrease by 30% - 40%.

In response to this investigation, the Chinese government and enterprises have taken active actions. The Ministry of Commerce of China has had several communications with relevant EU departments, emphasizing the importance of a fair and just trade environment for the stability of the global industrial chain, and requiring the EU to strictly follow the rules of the World Trade Organization during the investigation. Chinese enterprises involved in the case have also united to form a response working group, preparing sufficient materials and evidence to prove their compliance in the production and sales process, and that their products have not caused material damage to the EU industry.

On the stage of international trade, this anti - dumping investigation by the EU on Chinese stainless - steel seamless tubes is like a storm, testing the wisdom and response capabilities of all parties. In the future, what will be the outcome of the investigation? Will it trigger more trade chain reactions? And how will the pattern of the global stainless - steel industry evolve? All these are worthy of our continuous attention. As Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala, the Director - General of the World Trade Organization, said:"In the current complex and changing global economic situation, safeguarding a fair, open and inclusive multilateral trading system is the common responsibility of all countries. Any trade disputes should be properly resolved through dialogue and consultation in accordance with the rules to avoid unnecessary impacts on the global industrial chain and economic recovery." This incident also sounds an alarm for global trade participants. Only by working together and following the rules of fair, just and transparent trade can sustainable development of global trade be achieved.