New import surveillance tool to help EU prevent harmful trade diversion

The European Commission has set up a new surveillance tool to help protect the EU against sudden and potentially disruptive surges in imports. This system aims to prevent harmful trade diversion, which occurs when a significant amount of goods that cannot enter other markets due to high tariffs and other restrictions are redirected into the EU. By providing fact-based information building on customs data, the surveillance tool will enable the Commission to swifty identify any such import surges and take early and effective action to protect the EU market from adverse impacts.

To further strengthen this initiative, the Commission is inviting EU manufacturers, industry associations and Member States to review the import trends available on the tool website and provide further market intelligence and data on the industry’s economic situation. This will further assist the Commission in identifying specific products that may be at risk due to significant import increases.

A dedicated task force to address trade diversion

The new tool builds on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s initiative to set up an import surveillance task force in order to protect EU markets and industries. This group is tasked with addressing the challenges posed by trade diversion, particularly in the wake of recent turbulence in the global trading system

The task force’s work is focused on providing timely and informed insights to support the Commission’s decision-making process. It has previously developed an internal dashboard, which monitors all imports to the EU and, through statistical analysis, also identifies products that have seen a potentially harmful increase of imports. Focusing on the period since 1 January 2025, the task force will keep monitoring imports and other indicators on an ongoing basis, with the results published online regularly.

Additionally, the Commission is setting up a dialogue with China to track possible trade diversion and ensure that any notable developments are duly addressed. This proactive approach will enable the EU to stay ahead of emerging trends and address any emerging risks. By working closely with key partners and stakeholders, the Commission is demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding the EU’s economic interests and promoting a level playing field for European industries.

More information: European Commission