EU Signals Possible Quotas Ahead of China Talks; New Export Control Rules Take Effect 18 November

European Union trade ministers met in Dublin on 23 October, with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic indicating that additional import quotas or tariffs could be introduced before the next round of negotiations with China. Packaging-grade PET is closest to a formal investigation, while chemicals, machinery, agricultural products and pharmaceuticals were discussed by some member states; epoxy resins and glass fibre remain on the follow-up list.

France’s trade minister said Europe “must stay united and be able to say no to China”. Three tools floated by France and Germany – supply diversification, a solidarity mechanism and a trade “kill switch” – remain at the drafting stage, with supply diversification due for a proposal by year-end. Any measures would still need a Council vote threshold of 15 member states representing 65% of the EU population.

On the Chinese side, four joint announcements by MOFCOM and the General Administration of Customs take effect on 18 November: No. 49 (UAV-related items, including 9A901.c carbon-fibre propeller blades), No. 50 (shield tunnelling machines and related items) and No. 51 (dredgers). Announcement No. 52 separates the query procedure into a 15-working-day customs review plus a 15-working-day MOFCOM identification, and adds release of unrelated goods on the same shipment.

In industry news, the aviation thermoplastic composites pilot base in Caidian, Wuhan, is basically complete and expected to enter service this year, with automated fibre placement, autoclave, carbon-fibre prepreg production and automated lay-up/hot-press curing equipment in place. Beijing also approved two new materials pilot platforms covering high-precision prepreg cutting, rapid preforming, large-scale HP-RTM and thermoplastic automated fibre placement, winding and pultrusion.

Hohhot published two demand lists for its aerospace industry cluster on 29 October, covering 42 cooperation directions, with materials priorities including aerospace-grade carbon fibre and composite materials.

Sources: Changjiang Daily, China-CEEC Customs Information Centre, CNR.cn via Tencent News, Sina News.