The European Union (EU) has taken a decisive step to strengthen its industrial autonomy by imposing exceptionally high anti-dumping duties on fused corundum imports from China. The move underscores Brussels’ growing determination to protect strategic industries, safeguard supply chains, and reduce dependence on external suppliers—particularly China—for critical industrial inputs.
The decision comes amid rising geopolitical tensions, mounting concerns over unfair trade practices, and the EU’s broader push to reinforce its economic and strategic resilience.
On January 16 (Brussels time), the European Commission (EC) officially announced the introduction of anti-dumping duties ranging from 88.7% to 110.6% on imports of fused corundum from China.
This represents one of the highest anti-dumping tariffs ever imposed by the EU on an industrial raw material. In addition to the duties, the Commission introduced a limited duty-free import quota, allowing a restricted volume of fused corundum to enter the EU market without tariffs to avoid immediate supply disruptions.
Fused corundum—also known as fused alumina—is an essential raw material used across a wide range of industrial sectors, including:
Steelmaking and metal processing
Glass manufacturing
Ceramics and refractory materials
Defense and aerospace industries
Thanks to its exceptional hardness, thermal resistance, and durability, fused corundum plays an irreplaceable role in high-performance and defense-related applications.
Over the past decade, the EU has become increasingly dependent on imports of fused corundum from China, where production costs are significantly lower. While this reliance helped reduce costs for European manufacturers, it also created structural vulnerabilities in the EU’s industrial supply chains.
Supply disruptions, geopolitical frictions, and concerns over market distortions have prompted Brussels to reassess this dependency.
In its official statement, the European Commission stressed that the new measures are designed to counter dumping practices that have caused material injury to EU producers.
According to the EC’s investigation, Chinese exporters were selling fused corundum in the EU market at unfairly low prices, undermining European manufacturers and threatening the long-term viability of domestic production.
“These measures will address injurious dumping on the EU market and prevent the emergence of systemic risks within the industrial ecosystem,” the Commission stated.
The EC warned that overreliance on a single external supplier for strategically important materials could expose the EU to systemic industrial and security risks, particularly in sectors linked to defense and critical infrastructure.
The anti-dumping duties are therefore seen as a preventive measure to strengthen the EU’s industrial base and ensure long-term resilience.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the new trade measures go beyond protecting domestic producers. According to her, they form part of a broader strategy to gradually reduce the EU’s strategic dependence on China for critical raw materials.
She noted that the goal is not to isolate Europe from global trade, but to ensure secure, diversified, and resilient supply chains capable of withstanding external shocks.
The Commission also highlighted that strengthening domestic production of fused corundum would help secure supply for downstream industries, ensuring stable access to key inputs for European manufacturers.
This, in turn, is expected to enhance the overall competitiveness of the EU’s industrial ecosystem.
The decision is likely to add further strain to EU–China trade relations, which are already under pressure due to disputes over industrial subsidies, electric vehicles, and advanced technologies.
While Beijing has yet to formally respond, trade analysts warn that the move could prompt diplomatic pushback or retaliatory measures.
In the short term, European companies reliant on fused corundum imports may face higher input costs. However, policymakers argue that these costs are outweighed by the long-term benefits of rebuilding domestic production capacity and reducing strategic vulnerabilities.
The anti-dumping duties on fused corundum are consistent with the EU’s wider push toward industrial sovereignty and strategic autonomy. Similar measures have been introduced or considered for other critical sectors, including clean energy technologies, batteries, and semiconductors.
Brussels has signaled that it is prepared to deploy robust trade defense instruments whenever strategic industries are threatened by unfair competition.
The EU’s decision to impose anti-dumping duties of up to 110.6% on fused corundum imports from China marks a significant turning point in its trade and industrial policy.
Rather than focusing solely on cost efficiency, the bloc is increasingly prioritizing security of supply, industrial resilience, and strategic independence. As global competition intensifies, similar measures targeting other strategic raw materials may follow.
By imposing exceptionally high anti-dumping duties on fused corundum imports from China, the EU has sent a clear message about its determination to protect strategic industries and reduce external dependencies. While the move may heighten trade tensions in the short term, it reflects a long-term vision of a more resilient and self-sufficient European industrial base.
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