Anti-Dumping in Europe: What About Us(ers)?

As Anti-Dumping law in the European Union turned fifty years old, it got a rejuvenating cure: the European Union published in December 2017 and June 2018 two regulations providing a stronger policy tool to protect European producers and workers. This article focuses on users, including both intermediate industries and consumers. First, it recalls the European approach of considering users in trade defence policy, as a moderate user of trade defence tools. Second, it reviews the three ways in which the European Union takes into account users' interests, and the impact of the June 2018 modernization. Notably, this article looks at the new flexibility of the 'lesser duty rule' and at the two new 'Union interest tests'. It also gives practical insights for users. Third, the article raises some open questions. As the lesser duty rule and the Union interest test evolve, this article argues that users' interests remain an important feature in Europe's anti-dumping law.