The European Union has introduced new tariffs on Chinese-made mobile access equipment, imposing duties as high as 66.7% following an investigation into unfair subsidies and artificially low pricing. The move aims to shield EU manufacturers in a market valued at over €1 billion annually, where Chinese producers have rapidly expanded their share to 41% in recent years.
According to the European Commission, Chinese companies benefited from state-backed financial advantages, including below-market financing and grants, allowing them to undercut European competitors by roughly 20%. Major affected firms include Hunan Sinoboom, Zoomlion, and Zhejiang Dingli, while EU-based producers like France’s Haulotte and Manitou stand to gain from the protective measures.
This decision adds to the EU’s growing list of trade restrictions on Chinese imports, which now covers nearly 80 products ranging from truck tires to ironing boards. The bloc has intensified scrutiny of Chinese trade practices, including a separate high-profile probe into electric vehicles last year.
The new duties, ranging from 20.6% to 66.7%, reflect Brussels’ efforts to counter what it views as market-distorting subsidies. The move underscores ongoing trade tensions between the EU and China, with European industries pushing for stronger defenses against what they see as unfair competition.