Anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese screws 2026: what importers pay and what to do

Key data

Companies importing screws, nuts, bolts and other iron or steel fasteners from China must continue paying additional anti-dumping duties when bringing these products into the EU. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/701, published on 24 March 2026 and in force since 23 March, confirms and updates the measures already established by Regulation 2022/191, without eliminating or reducing the existing duties.

This is not a new regulation opening an adaptation period: the obligations are immediate and apply to any ongoing or future import operation of these products originating in the People's Republic of China.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/701 amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/191, which already imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of certain iron or steel fasteners originating in China. The new regulation maintains and updates those measures, confirming their continuity.

The stated objective is to protect European industry against dumping practices that distort competition: Chinese manufacturers exporting these products at artificially low prices, below their actual production cost or the market price at origin.

Economic and operational impact

The maintenance of these duties has a direct effect on the procurement cost of any company that depends on Chinese supplies of these components. The additional anti-dumping duty is added to the purchase price of the product, increasing the final landed cost in the EU.

SMEs that depend on low-cost Chinese supplies are the most vulnerable: their ability to absorb this additional cost is lower than that of large industrial groups, and their capacity to reduce production costs is limited while these measures remain in force.

The sectors with the greatest exposure are those that consume these components in large volumes:

• Construction: intensive use of screws, bolts and fasteners in civil engineering and building works.
• Industrial manufacturing: integration of these elements into machinery and equipment production lines.
• Automotive: critical components in vehicle assembly and mechanical sub-assemblies.

The operational impact also includes the need to review existing supply contracts, especially those with agreed prices that did not account for the continuation of these duties, and to evaluate the supply chain to identify alternatives not subject to these measures.

Who is affected?

• Direct importers of screws, nuts, bolts and steel fasteners originating in China.
• Distributors that market these products in the European market and source them from Chinese suppliers.
• Industrial manufacturers that incorporate these components into their production processes and import them directly.
• Construction sector companies that purchase in large volumes and are sensitive to the unit price of these materials.
• Automotive sector, where fasteners are mass-use components throughout the assembly line.
• SMEs with supply chains dependent on China that have not diversified their suppliers and have less capacity to absorb additional costs.

Practical example

A company manufacturing metal structures for construction regularly imports steel screws and bolts from China. Under Regulation 2022/191, it was already paying additional anti-dumping duties on each imported consignment. Regulation 2026/701 confirms that those duties are maintained: there is no reduction, no temporary exemption, no grace period.

If this company has signed supply contracts with fixed prices that did not include the continuation of these duties, it will need to renegotiate terms or absorb the additional cost in its margin. If its European competitor manufactures using domestically produced fasteners or from third-country suppliers without active anti-dumping measures, it operates with a more favourable cost structure.

The recommended immediate action for this type of company is to audit the origin of all fasteners in its supply chain and identify what percentage comes from China, in order to quantify the actual exposure to the duty and prioritise the search for alternatives.

What should companies do now?

1. Audit the origin of supplies: identify what volume of screws, nuts, bolts and steel fasteners comes from China to quantify the actual exposure to anti-dumping duties.
2. Review existing supply contracts: check whether agreed prices with suppliers or customers account for the continuation of these duties and renegotiate if necessary to avoid absorbing the additional cost in margin.
3. Explore alternative suppliers: evaluate European manufacturers or third-country suppliers not subject to active anti-dumping measures on these products, which may offer competitive terms without the tariff surcharge.
4. Update production cost analysis: recalculate the cost of finished products incorporating these components, especially if market price changes have occurred since Regulation 2022/191 entered into force.
5. Consult with a customs operator or foreign trade adviser: verify that import declarations correctly reflect the origin of the products and that the appropriate tariff codes and duties are applied, to avoid contingencies during customs inspections.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026R0701