EU imposes up to 45% anti‑dumping duties on Chinese tires

The European Commission has approved definitive anti‑dumping duties on tires imported from China for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The tariffs range from 4.3% for cooperating manufacturers to a maximum of 45.3% for those deemed most responsible. Hankook, which produces higher‑priced tyres in China, will face the lowest rate of 4.3%.

The duties are calculated on the import value (average €30.30 per tyre in 2024) and are expected to add roughly €10‑20 to the price of each tyre after VAT and margins, meaning a total extra cost of €40‑80 for a set of four wheels. The measure follows an investigation that found Chinese tyres were sold 30%‑65% below EU market prices, eroding the competitiveness of the European tyre industry, which employs about 80,000 workers and generated more than €18 billion in 2024. Chinese market share in the EU rose from 18% in 2021 to 28% in 2024, with 93 million units entering the bloc last year.