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Brussels Tariff is investigating Chinese companies for a novel form of theft: adding a thin layer to wooden products to avoid the information of customs authorities.

European Union applied anti-dumping duties up to 62.4 percent on Chinese on Tuesday Hardwood plywood – Widely used in construction – domestic producers have been damaged after an increase in imports in the last three years.

The European Commission alleged that the provisional levy would be withdrawn by December, but Chinese exporters are disguising hard wood products.

The European Union industry groups have long complained that Chinese exporting can dodge duties by slightly changing or by sending them through third countries, and that Brussels are too slow to react. Tariff step comes a few days after Beijing Trade tension With Brussels.

The Commission said that it will start Monitoring imports Softwood plywood, which is not subject to duties, was added to a thin softwood veneer in varieties of hard wood after the allegations that the Chinese exporters were adding it. Different categories of plywood marked by separate customs codes depend on the type of wood used to make engineer products.

The commission said, “The alleged practice included the inclusion of very thin exterior layers of softwood veneer at the top of the Hardwood Plywood face veneer. Such a practice falls under the customs code, which is not subject to registration, without changing its required characteristics,” said the Commission. This warned that it could begin an anti-creation investigation, which would hit such imports.

China’s Ministry of Commerce did not immediately respond to the remarks request.

Hardwood plywood is made using wood from trees including beach, birch and chinar. It is often used in roofs, walls and floors as well as furniture, cars and ships because due to its durability and light weight. Plywood products catch supercooned liquided natural gas tankers as they could tolerate very low temperatures.

The Greenwood Consortium of the European Union producers, who had complained against the Chinese contestants last year, said that it welcomed the move, but “argued to exceed these provisional levels” for certain duties “argued when the Commission takes final decisions later this year.

Domestic plywood industry fell between 2021 and 2023 in the sales, production and profits. Chinese imports filled a difference from the ban on Russian and Belarusian plywood after Moscow’s full -scale invasion by Moscow in 2022. In 2023, China staked with € 327MN, with about one third of the European Union, with € 327MN.

The European Union has continued with a steady increase in trade defense cases against China as it has implemented anti -subsidy duties up to 45 percent. Electric vehicle In October 2023. Last month, it examined car and truck tires and banned its medical device market for Chinese companies.

“I think the message for China is that they should not take for the openness of the European market,” said Chinese chief business officer Maria Martin-to-late at a conference on Friday.

The European Union has also pressurized China to raise export control over the rare Earth magnets for civil use, causing the car industry to prevent production lines.

Beijing on Saturday announced a fast-track licensing system for European Union companies, after a meeting between European Trade Commissioner Maroš šefčovič and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wanwao last week.

But Brussels said that products should be exempted for civil use. The Chinese Commerce Ministry also said that it was expecting a solution to a conversation on the electric vehicle tariff, and indicated that it could reduce antidium duties on the Borban imports of the European Union last year, imposed in exchange for minimum price guarantee from producers in the block.

Additional reporting by Lehi in Beijing