Stronger EU Trade Defence
Forty-four European industry organisations, including EERA, have joined forces to call for more ambitious EU trade defence measures to address unfair competition, state-driven market distortions and persistent global overcapacity. The joint statement calls on EU Member States to strengthen the European Commission's capacity to investigate unfair trade practices, make more effective use of existing trade defence instruments and develop additional tools to address structural distortions affecting European industry.
Why stronger EU trade defence matters
European industries face increasing competitive pressure from imports affected by unfair trade practices and state-driven market distortions. Persistent overcapacity, combined with high energy costs and other pressures on European producers, is putting the EU's industrial competitiveness under strain. The signatories warn that these conditions can weaken Europe's industrial base, discourage investment and increase strategic dependencies. They call for fair, rules-based competition and a trade defence framework that can respond more quickly and effectively to practices that undermine European industries.
Three priorities for EU action
1. Strengthen the Commission's trade defence capacity
The signatories call for additional staff and technical expertise within the European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE). Greater capacity would allow the Commission to conduct more investigations, reduce delays and handle increasingly complex cases. It would also help small and medium-sized companies access trade defence procedures.
2. Make better use of existing trade defence instruments
The statement calls for more effective use of existing instruments, including anti-dumping measures, anti-subsidy measures and safeguards, where justified. It also highlights the need to address circumvention, consider environmental and social costs when calculating dumping margins and duties, and assess the effects of unfair trade practices across entire industrial value chains. The signatories stress that measures should avoid unintended negative consequences for closely integrated European trading partners, including Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
3. Develop new tools to address state-driven distortions
Existing trade defence instruments may not adequately address all forms of state-driven market distortion. The signatories therefore call for a targeted policy toolkit to respond to distortions originating in third countries, including those contributing to increased volumes of underpriced exports to the EU. Any new measures should take account of entire value chains and comply with the EU's international obligations.
Why this matters for WEEE recyclers
Professional WEEE recyclers operate within European and international material value chains. Their activities contribute to the supply of secondary raw materials for European manufacturing. Fair competition is therefore relevant not only to manufacturers of finished products but also to companies recovering and supplying materials for industrial use.
For EERA, the statement connects with the wider objective of creating a level playing field for European recycling companies. Trade defence measures should recognise the interconnected nature of industrial value chains and avoid unintended consequences for the movement and use of secondary raw materials.
Editorial context: This section explains the relevance to WEEE recycling. It is not a separate recommendation contained in the joint statement.
About the joint statement
The statement brings together 44 European industry organisations representing a broad range of sectors, including metals, chemicals, plastics, manufacturing, waste management and recycling. EERA is among the signatories calling for a stronger, more responsive and effective EU trade defence framework. Read the full joint statement to see the complete recommendations and list of signatories.
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