The European Commission imposed definitive antidumping duties on sweetener erythritol from China on Jan. 16, the Directorate-General for Trade announced. The duties range from 34.4% to 233.3% and will be collected retroactively to June 7, 2024, at the level of provisional duties the commission imposed in July last year. The commission said the duties are needed due to the injury caused by Chinese erythritol imports to the EU industry, which was "forced to halt its erythritol production towards the end of 2022."

The European Commission is considering new restrictions on Chinese bidders of EU contracts after finding that EU medical device companies face "discrimination" in the Chinese procurement market. A report released by the EU on Jan. 13 outlines the findings of the bloc's first investigation under its International Procurement Instrument and "presents clear evidence of China limiting the access of EU medical devices producers to its government contracts in an unfair and discriminatory way," the commission said. The EU began the probe in April 2024 and said it could result in "a restriction on, or exclusion of, Chinese bidders of government contracts in the EU. "

The EU is “concerned” about the Bureau of Industry and Security's new export controls on advanced AI chips (see 2501130026), which will impose new restrictions on certain EU member states and their companies, the bloc’s top two technology and trade officials said in a joint statement this week.

The European Commission on Jan. 10 imposed antidumping duties on polyvinyl chloride from Egypt and the U.S., the Directorate-General for Trade announced. The duties range from 74.2% to 100.1% for imports from Egypt and 58% to 77% for imports from the U.S. Polyvinyl chloride is a "thermoplastic polymer used in the manufacturing of various products including pipes and fittings, films and foils, injection moulding and blow moulding, for example in the construction industry," the commission said.

The European Commission imposed antidumping duties on titanium dioxide and mobile access equipment from China on Jan. 9.

As the EU looks to revamp its customs system, it should take steps to ensure the changes don't impede international trade, a coalition of trade groups said in a joint statement released Dec. 12.

Covington lawyers expect the upcoming Polish presidency of the Council of the EU, running from January to June, to make “significant strides” around technology and trade issues, the firm said in a December client alert.

The Netherlands said it’s seeing an uptick in exports of sanctioned goods to countries with a history of helping Russia evade sanctions, with many of those exports being sent by smaller firms that entered the market within the last couple of years.

The EU this month issued new guidance on its sanctions for importing Russian diamonds, describing the types of diamonds subject to trade restrictions, explaining how the restrictions apply to jewelry that incorporates Russian diamonds, outlining a new mandatory diamond traceability mechanism, and more.

Members of the European Parliament passed three sanctions-related resolutions last week calling on the bloc and other countries to increase restrictions on human rights violators and countries aiding Russia.