The European Commission has opened a safeguard investigation into rising imports of chemicals used throughout the polyethylene terephthalate resin chain, a step that could lead to temporary or definitive trade restrictions if the legal tests are met.
The inquiry covers virgin and recycled PET, PET glycol and the upstream inputs terephthalic acid, mono-ethylene glycol and purified isophthalic acid. These materials feed industries ranging from packaging and textiles to construction and advanced manufacturing. The Commission said EU producers are facing unusually strong import pressure amid global overcapacity.
A safeguard is not a finding of unfair trade. The Commission must establish a serious injury, or threat of serious injury, caused by increased imports and decide that intervention is in the Union’s interest. Any definitive measure would require support from a qualified majority of member states. Provisional measures may be imposed if the conditions are satisfied; definitive action must then follow within 200 days and no later than the investigation’s statutory outer limit.
The EU already applies separate anti-dumping or anti-subsidy duties to several products in the same chain from China, India, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and the United States. The Commission’s notice links to the formal initiation document.
