Refinitiv sources said several European governments plan to urge the EU to use a
rare trade-defense tool to protect its chemicals and plastics sector. France,
Italy and possibly Germany intend to submit requests within weeks for broad
import quotas under safeguard measures, the sources said. Requests will focus on
polymer resin PET, epoxy resins and fiberglass. The push reflects a firmer EU
trade stance as its industrial base, including a crisis-hit chemicals sector,
faces import pressure and portions of the US market have been curtailed by Trump
administration tariffs. The EU currently enforces more than 150 trade measures,
mainly narrow anti-dumping or anti-subsidy duties; only one safeguard regime
covers ferroalloys and steel imports are managed under a separate restriction
framework.
