On January 9, the European Commission announced the imposition of anti-dumping measures on two major product categories imported from China: titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and mobile access equipment (MAE).
Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)
The duties, ranging from €0.25 to €0.74 per kilogram, follow an investigation revealing that Chinese TiO₂ was being dumped on the EU market, harming the European industry employing around 5,000 workers. The measure aims to protect EU TiO₂ producers while maintaining the supply chain benefits for industries using TiO₂ as an input material.
Titanium dioxide is widely used as a white pigment in paints, plastics, laminated paper, and surface coatings — making it a key material across multiple industrial sectors. To mitigate the downstream impact, the EU has exempted TiO₂ used in ink production from the duties.
Mobile Access Equipment (MAE)
The Commission also imposed anti-dumping duties between 20.6% and 54.9% on mobile access equipment from China to counter unfair trade practices.
MAE refers to essential equipment used in construction, electrical installation, and telecommunications work at elevated heights.
Despite favorable market conditions and growing demand, EU manufacturers lost significant market share to cheaper imports from China. The EU’s MAE industry — generating about €1 billion in annual revenue and employing over 3,000 workers across eight Member States — represents a vital component of the regional economy.
Implications for Vietnamese Exporters
Vietnamese exporters should closely monitor these new EU trade defense measures, which also open new opportunities to penetrate the European market.
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For TiO₂: Vietnam could emerge as an alternative supplier for EU industries seeking to diversify away from Chinese inputs.
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For MAE: Vietnamese companies are encouraged to improve product quality, invest in R&D, and align with EU technical and safety standards to enhance their competitiveness in the construction and telecom equipment markets.