On June 7, the European Commission published an implementing regulation making imports of titanium dioxide from China subject to registration. The Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Paints and Printing Inks (Asefapi) warns about the legal uncertainty and consequences for the sector.

This decision of the European Commission implies that all imports of TiO2 from China will have to be recorded in customs and the importer will receive a charge with the amount of the rate to be agreed in the final decisions, expected for January 2025.

Asefapi thinks that the measure, in addition to establishing a situation of insecurity, may generate an unpredictable increase in costs for a multitude of industrial sectors in the EU. In addition to this situation, the Commission will probably announce provisional measures shortly, which will entail a specific increase, but which can be reviewed with the definitive measures.

Asefapi considers that this decision may lead to a reduction in the availability of the material. In addition, TiO2 suppliers of Chinese origin could pass on the economic uncertainty to European Union consumers, says the association.

The employers’ association states that it continues to ask the national and European Administration to contain these measures, as the believes them to seriously affect the competitiveness of the sector and its customers throughout the European Union.