This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Anti-dumping duties: after tableware, they must “, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
CIVITA CASTELLANA – 'I believe the application of 79% anti-dumping duties on the import of Chinese tableware into Europe is correct, because the investigation carried out in Brussels has established that Chinese producers sell to us at prices significantly lower than their production cost, in order to conquer increasing shares of the European market with these abusive practices, to the detriment of companies and the quality jobs they ensure in our territories.' Augusto Ciarrocchi, president of Confindustria Ceramica and of Ceramica Flaminia, commented thus on the recent proposal by the European Commission to increase anti-dumping duties (additional customs taxes imposed on goods imported at prices below their market value) on Chinese tableware imports and relaunched the proposal: 'It is time for the European Union to adopt the same measures also in the sanitary ceramics sector.' But let's proceed in order. The partial review investigation by the EU Commission concluded in October 2025 had highlighted how the unfair practices adopted by China had created anti-competitive distortions and for years damaged the ceramic manufacturing sector, leading to the closure of over 60 companies and the loss of almost 10,000 jobs across Europe. The repetition of distortive commercial practices had, over time, created structural economic damage to the European ceramic and porcelain tableware industry despite the imposition of duties ranging between 13.1% and 36.1%. Therefore, the 2025 investigation concluded with the European Commission's proposal to apply a duty of 79%, aimed at restoring fair market conditions. This decision came after finding incredibly high levels of dumping by Chinese imports, even reaching 446.5%.
‘A similar measure, namely that of stopping China-EU economic dumping,’ clarified Ciarrocchi, ‘has been requested in past years also for the sanitary ware sector, but there has been no convergence on this point among the major European producers, some of whom have production bases in China. Today, the time might be ripe to try again, also considering the continuous increase in quantities imported by the European community.’
Data from the latest Confindustria report highlighted that in 2024, over 93,000 tonnes of sanitary ware products were imported into Italy, of which 26,000 were from China alone, while Italy's exports to the Far East are practically non-existent.
