Judgment of the General Court (Tenth Chamber) of 2 July 2025 – Arkema France v Commission
(Case T‑165/23)
( Commercial policy – Dumping – Imports of fatty acids originating in Indonesia – Definitive anti-dumping duty – Article 9(1) of Regulation (UE) 2016/1036 – Continuation of the investigation after withdrawal of the complaint – Article 1(1) of Regulation 2016/1036 – Article 3(6) of Regulation 2016/1036 – Injury analysis – Article 21(1) of Regulation 2016/1036 – Union interest analysis – Manifest error of assessment – Error of law )
1.      Common commercial policy – Protection against dumping – Investigation – Obligation on Commission to close the procedure following the withdrawal of the complaint – Absence – Commission decision to continue with the anti-dumping investigation – No obligation to take account of the EU interests
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036, Arts 9(1) and 21)
(see paragraphs 23, 24)
2.      Action for annulment – Review of legality – Criteria – Commission decision imposing anti-dumping duties – Account taken of the previous decision-making practice of the institutions – None – No breach of the principle of the protection of legitimate expectations
(Art. 263 TFEU; European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036)
(see paragraphs 29, 30, 115-122)
3.      Common commercial policy – Protection against dumping – Fixing of anti-dumping duties – Assessment of the EU interest – Manifest error of assessment – Burden of proof
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036, Art. 21)
(see paragraphs 32-44, 50-57, 59-62, 73-75, 85, 88-90)
4.      Judicial proceedings – Application initiating proceedings – Formal requirements – Brief summary of the pleas in law on which the application is based – Requirement for an express reference to the provisions on which the action is based – No such requirement – Error in the identification of the provisions – Irrelevant to the admissibility of the action
(Statute of the Court of Justice, Arts 21, first para., and 53, first para.; Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Arts 76(d) and 84(1))
(see paragraphs 97-101)
5.      Common commercial policy – Protection against dumping or subsidizing by non-member countries – Anti-dumping investigation and anti-subsidy investigation – Withdrawal of the complaints that triggered those investigations – Commission decision to continue with the anti-dumping investigation – Commission decision to terminate the anti-subsidy investigation – No breach of the principle of equal treatment
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036, Art. 9(1), and European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1037, Art. 14(1))
(see paragraphs 103-114)
6.      Common commercial policy – Protection against dumping – Injury – Factors to be taken into consideration – Impact of the dumping on EU production – Discretion of the institutions – Judicial review – Limits – Manifest error of assessment – Burden of proof
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036, Art. 3(2), (3), (5) and (6))
(see paragraphs 135-143, 167, 169, 178)
7.      Common commercial policy – Protection against dumping – Injury – Factors to be taken into consideration – Withdrawal of the complaint – Not included
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036, Art. 3)
(see paragraph 145)
8.      Common commercial policy – Protection against dumping – Injury – Factors to be taken into consideration – Impact of the dumping on EU production – Existence of factors and indicators showing a positive tendency – Fact not excluding the conclusion that significant injury caused to the EU industry
(European Parliament and Council Regulation 2016/1036, Arts 3(3) and 5)
(see paragraph 154)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Dismisses the action;
2.
Orders Arkema France to bear its own costs.