Five countries are asking the European Commission for stricter measures to protect the European industry from unfair trading practices.

Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Lithuania have requested the European Commission to implement stricter measures to protect the European industry from unfair trade practices, in a recently published document. The five countries emphasize that the multilateral trading system is undermined by various actors imposing trade barriers and contributing to industrial overcapacity.

In the document addressed to the Commission, they propose strengthening the EU's trade defense instruments, including the creation of a new cross-sectoral instrument activated in cases of significant market distortions. They also call for the acceleration of anti-dumping case processing and the allocation of more resources to avoid delays in protecting companies.

In the medium term, adjustments to the legal framework are proposed to restore fair competition, and in the long term, reforms to improve the EU's trade instruments. The five countries underline the need to address the circumvention of trade measures through third countries.