The European Commission earlier this week formally published a Regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping measures on imports of birch plywood from Russia for five years.

This legislation marks the end of a long investigation into the unfair trade practices of Russian suppliers, who now face anti-dumping duties (ranging from 14,43% to 15,80%) for an initial period of five years. The regulation can be downloaded in all EU languages here.

The Woodstock Consortium is composed of a majority of EU producers of birch plywood and is supported by long-standing industry groups that together represent at least 175 companies of all sizes in at least 15 EU Member States. Many of these companies produce plywood made from wood softer than birch, and voiced their deep concerns that Russian producers’ dumped prices of more expensive birch products have adversely affected their market segments too. The modest duties settled upon in this case are by no means a panacea, but hopefully will offer some relief to all EU producers in the face of the injurious effects of sustained dumping.

The imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties will help restore fair trading conditions, allowing all EU producers to compete better against those Russian producers who have taken advantage of the benefits their government provides them to cut prices and gain market share. The new duties will not in any way close the Union market to imports from Russia. They will, however, preserve the open rules-based trade system by defending European industry against now proven unfair trade practices.

We agree with the Commission’s definitive assessment that such comparatively modest duties are in Europe’s best interest. Indeed, these corrective measures – if properly enforced – will help all European producers to return to sustainable profitability levels. It will be become evident over time that the Commission’s action will allow them to make the necessary investments to continue to supply high-quality, reliable birch plywood products to customers across the EU, thereby safeguarding customer choice.

We also fully endorse the Commission’s decision to decline requests to suspend the definitive anti-dumping measures made by certain interested parties at the direction of Russian exporting producers. Indeed, the Commission’s conclusions made it abundantly clear that the fledgling recovery signs some EU producers may have shown during the most recent post-investigation period were not nearly strong enough to remedy the highly injurious situation the Union industry continues to find itself in. In fact, the latter was still loss-making during that period.

We thank the European Commission for its professionalism, openness, and meticulous work – and ultimately for a balanced decision. We are pleased to see that the EU is able and willing to defend its domestic industry in the face of sustained, unfair trade practices. The Consortium’s work will now focus on keeping a watchful eye on any attempts by Russian producers to circumvent the duties and expect the Commission to equally remain vigilant as the measures come into effect.

As ever, the Woodstock Consortium stands ready to answer any questions that media and any stakeholders may have at: info@woodstockconsortium.com.