EU Imposes Final Protective Tariffs on Chinese Fused Alumina Imports

The European Union has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of fused alumina from China, marking a significant escalation in the bloc’s trade defense policy and its broader push to safeguard strategically important industries.

The European Commission announced that the final tariffs will range between 88.7% and 110.6%, concluding an investigation that found Chinese exporters had been selling fused alumina in the EU market at unfairly low prices. According to Brussels, these practices caused “material injury” to European producers and distorted competition within the single market.

Fused alumina, a critical industrial input, is widely used in the production of steel, glass, ceramics, and defense-related materials. The EU market for the product is valued at €400–500 million annually, with total consumption estimated at around 380,000 tonnes. Chinese imports account for approximately 160,000 tonnes, making China the dominant external supplier.

While imposing steep duties, the Commission sought to balance industrial protection with supply security. The measures include duty-free import quotas allowing limited volumes of fused alumina to enter the EU market without tariffs. These quotas are designed to ensure that downstream industries continue to receive adequate supplies while domestic producers recover.

Under the new regime, the duty-free quota will start at 220,000 tonnes in the first year and will be reduced by 5% annually, gradually tightening market access as European capacity stabilizes.

The Commission stated that its investigation revealed a sustained decline in the European industry’s market share, profitability, and capacity utilization. “The evidence showed a clear causal link between dumped imports and the deterioration of the Union industry’s economic performance,” the Commission said in its findings.

The decision is particularly notable as it represents the first application of the EU’s new economic security criteria, adopted under a joint policy document issued in December 2025. That framework emphasizes reducing reliance on external suppliers for materials deemed strategically important to the bloc’s industrial and security interests.

Production of fused alumina within the EU currently employs around 1,000 workers across six member states, making it a relatively small but strategically sensitive sector. European officials argue that protecting this industry is essential not only for economic reasons but also for supply-chain resilience amid rising geopolitical tensions.

According to the Commission, the measures are expected to “restore fair competition in the European market, strengthen the competitiveness of EU producers, and preserve stable supply conditions for user industries.”