EU measures expire in October

The European Union has advised that anti-dumping protection for hand pallet trucks will expire later this year, potentially opening the door for increased imports from China and Thailand.

The European regulators imposed restrictions in 2011 on the import of hand pallet trucks and parts from the two nations at the request of BT Products AB and Lifter SRL.

An investigation at the time found that imports from China were "clearly (undercutting) the prices of the Union industry by between 43% and 78%". Chinese imports accounted for almost 85% of the European market before the introduction of anti-dumping measures and threatened the viability of European producers.

The EU imposed duties of up to 46.7% on hand pallet truck imports from Ningbo Liftstar Material Transport Equipment Factory, Ningbo Ruyi Joint Stock Co. Ltd, Ningbo Tailong Machinery Co., Zhejiang Noblelift Equipment Joint Stock Co. Ltd, and other unnamed manufacturers.

Last month's EU notification indicates that the protection will expire on October 14, 2016 "unless a review is initiated in accordance with the (mandated) procedure".

At this stage, it is not clear whether the initial applicants will renew their objection to imports from the two countries. Similarly, the industry representative body, FEM, has not yet indicated if it plans to call for a continuation of anti-dumping duties for this class of equipment.

Imported hand pallet trucks have been a source of contention for European manufacturers, with EC measures dating back to 2004.