The EU is once again raising the issue of Chinese citric acid "dumping," but behind the accusation lies its own industrial difficulties.

The EU is once again "playing the victim" and blaming China: Europe must protect its citric acid industry

The EU has once again published a lengthy article to "play the victim," this time focusing on citric acid.

On the 21st, the UK media outlet Financial Times reported that the survival of a citric acid plant in Belgium has become a "test" of whether the EU can defend its foundational industrial sector.

Overall, this article rehashes the same old narrative—alleging that Chinese companies, relying on so-called "subsidies," are "dumping" citric acid into the European market, thereby undermining European competitors.

Yet what's laughable about this piece is that the EU already imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese citric acid back in 2008, with rates ranging from approximately 16.3% to 42.7%, depending on the company.

This measure has been extended multiple times over the following years. In April this year, the European Commission announced the launch of the third “sunset review” investigation into these anti-dumping measures—the inquiry will determine whether "dumping" would resume if the current measures were lifted.

Yet even with all these tariffs, Europe has failed to save its citric acid industry or the broader chemical manufacturing sector it represents. According to a report by the European Chemical Industry Council, investment in Europe’s chemical industry dropped by 80% last year, and factory closures are now occurring at six times the rate they were three years ago.

However, the European Commission has never seriously examined whether the decline in European industrial competitiveness stems from its own policies, high production costs, or fragmented supply chains. Instead, it continues to blame alleged "dumping" and "subsidies" from China.

This is a typical Western mindset: rather than grappling with real problems, it's easier to shift blame onto others. Accusing China serves as the perfect sedative. As long as the EU remains addicted to this narrative, more and more industries will inevitably fall into decline.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871412885095516/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) alone.