Countervailing duties on fiberglass fabric from China and Egypt: real costs for importers in 2026

Key data

European importers of fiberglass fabrics operating with Chinese or Egyptian suppliers cannot continue buying at the same prices as before. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1928, published on 10 August 2026, confirms the continuity of definitive countervailing duties on these products following an expiry review under Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037.

The most relevant novelty for companies is not just the maintenance of tariffs on China and Egypt: it is the extension of the measure to Morocco and Turkey, regardless of whether the goods are declared or not as originating from those countries. This closes the most common circumvention route in this type of trade measures.

What does this regulation establish?

The regulation establishes definitive countervailing duties on imports of certain woven and/or stitched fiberglass fabrics. The measure is activated after verifying that manufacturers in China and Egypt continue to benefit from state subsidies that distort competition with European producers.

The structure of the measure contemplates four differentiated areas of application:

The key to the extension to Morocco and Turkey is the clause "whether or not declared as originating in this country". This means that even if an exporter declares the product as Moroccan or Turkish, if the Commission detects that the real origin is Chinese or Egyptian, the countervailing duty is applied anyway. It is a first-level anti-circumvention measure.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact for importing companies is an increase in the cost of sourcing fiberglass fabrics. Countervailing duties are added to the purchase price at customs, which requires reviewing margins, supply contracts and selling prices to industrial customers.

The sectors with the greatest exposure are those that use fiberglass as a raw material or structural component:

• Construction: panels, reinforced insulation, facade elements and roofing.
• Automotive: body parts, structural reinforcements and interior components made of composite.
• Composite manufacturing: companies that produce composite materials for aerospace, marine, wind and sports industries.

The operational impact goes beyond the one-off tariff cost. Companies that had long-term supply contracts with suppliers in Morocco or Turkey—thinking they were outside the scope of previous tariffs—must now review whether those contracts remain profitable under the new cost structure.

Additionally, the application of the measure to maritime installations closes another alternative entry route that some companies used to avoid tariffs. Any imports introduced through these installations are also subject to countervailing duties.

Who is affected?

• European importers of woven and/or stitched fiberglass fabrics from China, Egypt, Morocco or Turkey.
• Composite manufacturers that use fiberglass as a raw material and source outside the EU.
• Construction sector companies that directly import materials reinforced with fiberglass.
• Automotive sector manufacturers with supply chains that include fiberglass parts or materials from the affected countries.
• Traders and distributors that re-export or resell fiberglass fabrics within the European market.
• Purchasing and logistics departments of any industrial company that manages imports of these materials.

Practical example

A Spanish composite parts manufacturer for the wind energy sector regularly imports stitched fiberglass fabrics from a supplier established in Turkey. Until now, the supplier declared Turkish origin and the company assumed it was not subject to countervailing duties on China.

With Regulation 2026/1928, that protection disappears. The measure applies to imports from Turkey "whether or not declared as originating in this country". If the Commission determines that the product has real Chinese or Egyptian origin, countervailing duties apply anyway. The company must now:

• Request from its Turkish supplier documentation proving the real origin of the fiberglass.
• Review whether the additional cost of the countervailing duty makes the current contract unviable.
• Evaluate alternative suppliers within the EU or in countries without countervailing restrictions.

The same reasoning applies to companies that import through maritime installations: that route no longer allows circumventing countervailing duties.

What should companies do now?

1. Audit active supply contracts with suppliers from China, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey to identify what volumes are affected by countervailing duties.
2. Review the real origin of products imported from Morocco and Turkey: request suppliers for certificates of origin and traceability documentation to determine if the product has concealed Chinese or Egyptian origin.
3. Recalculate the total cost of import including countervailing duties in the customs price, and transfer that impact to the analysis of margins and selling prices.
4. Verify whether imports through maritime installations are correctly declared and subject to corresponding tariffs, to avoid customs contingencies.
5. Explore alternative sourcing within the EU or in countries not affected by the measure, if the tariff surcharge makes the current supply chain unviable.
6. Consult with a foreign trade or customs specialist to assess whether any exemption or suspension regime applies to the company's specific situation.

Official source

Consult full regulation on official source — EUR-Lex CELEX:32026R1928

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026R1928