EU's thermal paper industry is largely located in Germany, Finland, France and Spain. The industry is calling on the Commission to impose countervailing duties as the future of the European industry is jeoardised by "heavily subsidised lighweight thermal paper from China," says ETPA.
European thermal paper manuacturers, represented by the European Thermal Paper Association (ETPA) have filed a complaint to the European Commission against what they consider to be unfair imports of thermal paper from China. The industry urges the Commission to investigate and take action against "the influx of highly subsidised imports of lightweight thermal paper (LWTP) from China" in order to safeguard the European industry from "unfair competition."
According to ETPA, Chinese imports of light-weight thermal paper have allegedly surged by over 500 per cent in market volume from 2022 to first quarter 2025. In addition, a persistent decrease in Chinese LWTP prices from 2023 has forced European producers to also decrease their sales prices, the asociation explained.
The complaint document handed over by the EU thermal paper industry is said to document numerous unfair subsidies provided by the Chinese government, including direct financial support, tax advantages and supply of raw-materials at below-market prices.
The ETPA is therefore calling on the European Commission to restore the level playing field by imposing countervailing duties on Chinese imports.
