Significant anti-dumping duties on ferro-silicon from China and the Russian Federation took effect today, imposing rates as high as 31.2% and 22.7% respectively. A broad set of new environmental controls on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) imports also became active. In the day's main publication, regulators loaded over 900 future-dated control measures, with a heavy focus on pharmaceutical and chemical products, signaling upcoming regulatory changes for those sectors.
The themes
Today's activity was split between immediate enforcement and forward-looking regulation. While the day's publication contained no new trade defence measures, previously announced anti-dumping duties came into force, representing a significant hardening of import conditions for key industrial materials. The newly loaded measures consisted entirely of future-dated controls, with a heavy concentration on pharmaceutical and chemical products, pointing to a large administrative update on the horizon.
Coming into force
Two major sets of measures became effective today, impacting industrial and chemical supply chains.
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Anti-Dumping Duties on Ferro-Silicon: Definitive duties on ferro-silicon (HS codes 7202210000, 7202291000, and 7202299000) from China and Russia are now active. The measures, under regulations R0909/20 and R1794/26, apply duties of up to 31.2% on Chinese imports and 22.7% on Russian imports, depending on the exporter.
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Environmental Controls on HFCs: A wide range of new controls on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) took effect for all non-EU origins. Affecting numerous products in Chapter 29, such as trifluoromethane (HFC-23) and difluoromethane (HFC-32), these measures introduce new certificate requirements and conditions for importation, consistent with the EU's environmental regulations on fluorinated gases.
What to watch
While no new headline measures were loaded today, the activation of the ferro-silicon duties continues the assertive trade defence posture seen last week with the action on glass fibres. The focus now shifts to the more than 900 future-dated regulatory controls loaded today for the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, which will translate into new compliance requirements when they become effective.