The European Parliament has announced that it has passed tougher rules to fight dumped and subsidized imports from third countries. The aim is to step up protection for EU jobs and businesses against unfairly cheap imports from third countries that interfere heavily in the economy.
Accordingly, for the first time worldwide, EU trade rules will require trade partners outside the EU to meet international social and environmental standards, so as to prevent dumping. According to the new rules, the impact of social and environmental dumping will be taken into account when deciding on antidumping measures, the European Commission is to monitor circumstances in exporting countries and EU firms may rely on these reports when lodging complaints, there will be no additional burden of proof on EU companies in antidumping cases, on top of the current procedure, small and medium-sized enterprises will get help to deal with procedures, and all parties involved, particularly trade unions, may give input to decisions on trade defense measures.
The new rules will enter into force after the European Council formally approves them and they are published in the Official Journal of the EU.