The European Commission has canceled anti-dumping duties on the import of ironing boards from Ukraine. And since protective measures against Chinese products are simultaneously preserved, Ukrainian manufacturers are given a chance to return to the EU market.

Photo: Dmitry Brushko, Kommersant / buy photo

Ukraine has obtained from the European Commission (EC) the removal of anti-dumping duties on the import of ironing boards. The corresponding decision of the EC was made today, Yuri Rudyuk, a partner in the Belgian law firm Van Bael & Bellis, which represents the interests of the Ukrainian manufacturer of these products, told Kommersant. “As part of this investigation, our client managed to prove to the European Commission that ironing tables produced in Ukraine are not exported to EU countries at dumping prices. This, in turn, led to the general conclusion of the EC that anti-dumping measures against the import of ironing tables from Ukraine should be cancelled,” the lawyer explained. It is important that, along with this decision, the EC extended the anti-dumping duties in force in the EU against the import of ironing boards from China until 2018, keeping them in the range of 18–42% of the customs value.

The anti-dumping duty on Ukrainian ironing boards was introduced in 2007 for a period of 5 years and was still under review. Initially, the duty was set at 9.9% of the customs value, but in 2008 it was reduced to 7%.

The Zhytomyr company Eurogold Industries Ltd is engaged in the production of ironing boards in Ukraine. The company is aware of this decision of the EC, but refrained from commenting.

“The abolition of the duty showed that Ukrainian producers have learned to defend their interests. At the same time, we are talking not only about the largest companies in the country, but also about relatively small enterprises,” says Vladimir Shchelkunov, president of the Ukrainian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce. According to him, such a decision is a positive signal indicating that Ukrainian companies are able to achieve the abolition of protective measures introduced even before the country joined the World Trade Organization.

Currently, the EU has anti-dumping measures against imports from Ukraine of seamless and welded pipes, as well as bundles, ropes and cables made of ferrous metals. “Membership in the World Trade Organization, as well as progress towards free trade with the EU, leads to the fact that our arguments have become better listened to,” summarizes Mr. Shchelkunov.

Yuri Panchenko

The European Union has simplified the trade in boards