Trade Defence – China
Policy areas / Trade / Trade Defence – China
Trade Defence – China
Chinese overcapacities > 2x total EU market demand
In brief
Global overcapacities in China are a major source of market distortions and competitive pressure on the European glass fibre industry. Over recent years, substantial capacity expansions, combined with various forms of state support, have contributed to growing export volumes and downward price pressure in international markets. In response, the European Union has imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on certain Chinese glass fibre products to address unfair trade practices and restore fair competition. In 2025, the European Commission imposed new trade defence measures on imports of glass fibre yarns from China and completed a review of the measures applicable to glass fibre reinforcements from China.
Why is it important
Today, the Chinese glass fibre overcapacities are above 200% of the European Union (EU) market demand. The two major Chinese State-owned companies, Jushi/Taishan and CPIC have proceeded with further capacity increases in recent years. In the absence of trade defence measures, the Chinese producers will direct even more of their overcapacities to the EU market. The EU industry would rapidly lose sales volumes, and face increased fixed costs per unit and major losses. As a result, the EU producers would not be able to make the investments necessary to rebuild the furnaces at the end of their lifetime, leading to production shutdowns.
Our view
In the face of major subsidised overcapacities, the continuation of the current measures imposed on imports of certain glass fibre reinforcements from China was paramount to the survival of the European industry. These and additional measures will be necessary to protect the European glass fibre sector from unfair trade practices, ensure its long-term viability, and enable it to continue supporting strategic value chains that are essential to achieving Europe’s climate neutrality, clean industrial transformation, resilience and economic security objectives.
Supporting documents