International law Bird & Bird advised European Industry players in the European Commission’s investigation into trade tariffs on imports from China into the European Union. A few days ago the European Commission, adopted an order imposing provisional trade tariffs of over 30% on imports from China into the European Union of certain industrial goods.
This significant decision follows a comprehensive investigation that commenced in June of the previous year.
The Brussels Competition, trade and public affairs team at Bird & Bird, representing European industry players (the petitioners) in this matter, has been a part of this investigation from the beginning. The team, led by Brussels partner Hein Hobbelen, is delighted with the Commission’s decision.
Hein Hobbelen, partner at Bird & Bird, comments, “Our team is pleased that the European Commission has put a provisional protective shield over EU business. The Commission’s investigation revealed, as we had asserted, that significant distortions exist in energy costs, access to capital and wage costs; that discrimination in favour of domestic suppliers or otherwise influencing free market forces occurs; and that Chinese companies might have benefited from local assistance enabling them to potentially impact prices or costs. It has been challenging for our clients to compete on a level playing field under these conditions.”
The core team at Bird & Bird working on this case included partner Hein Hobbelen, Counsels Baptist Vleeshouwers and Marcin Alberski, associates Aurelie de Amorin, David Wouters, and Alexander Brøchner, and regulatory and public affairs director Francine Cunningham and advisor Paolo Sasdelli.
