EU registers Chinese and Turkish steel mesh imports for retroactive duties

The European Commission has made imports of welded steel mesh originating in the People’s Republic of China and Türkiye subject to registration, opening the door to retroactive anti-dumping duties. The measure is set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2022 of 10 September 2026, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (L series) on 11 September 2026.

The registration is designed to ensure that, if the ongoing investigation concludes that duties are warranted, they can be levied retroactively on the imports registered, in line with Article 14(5) of the basic anti-dumping Regulation (EU) 2016/1036.

Background of the proceeding

The anti-dumping proceeding was initiated by the Commission on 3 June 2026, following a notice published in the Official Journal (C/2026/2971). The initiation came after a complaint lodged on 20 April 2026 by the European Welded Steel Mesh Producers Association on behalf of producers representing more than 25% of total Union production of welded steel mesh.

The Commission decided to impose registration on its own initiative under Article 14(5) of the basic Regulation. Any future liability would stem from the findings of the investigation, and the conditions for retroactive collection will be assessed in the regulation imposing definitive duties, if any.

Product covered and estimated margins

The product subject to registration is grill, mesh, netting and fencing, welded at the intersection, of plain wire — non-plated or plated or coated with zinc or other coating, whether presented in rolls or not, and whether galvanized or not. It is currently classified under CN codes 7314 20 90, 7314 31 00 and 7314 39 00.

The complaint estimates the following for the period 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025:

• Dumping margins of 26% to 73% for the People’s Republic of China and 44% to 51% for Türkiye.
• An injury elimination level of 18% for China and 41% for Türkiye.
• Any future liability would normally be set at the lower of the dumping or injury level, per Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation.

The Commission stressed that, at this stage, it cannot estimate the amount of possible future liability, and that the figures in the complaint are for information only and create no expectations as to the actual level of liability. If evidence of raw material distortions is found for China under Article 7(2a), the liability could instead be set at the level of the dumping margin.

Registration and entry into force

Customs authorities are directed to register the imports concerned, and the registration expires nine months after the regulation’s entry into force. The regulation entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal, and is binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. It was signed in Brussels on 10 September 2026 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

For EU steel producers, the registration is a protective step that preserves the possibility of recovering duties on imports arriving while the investigation is under way, deterring a surge of shipments ahead of any definitive ruling.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, 11.9.2026 (official reference: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2022, CELEX L_202602022).