TECH-FAB Europe, TECH-FAB Europe welcomes the European Commission’s recent initiation of an anti-circumvention investigation (R866) of imports of Open Mesh Fabrics (OMF) from Moldova, Serbia, Kosovo[i] and North Macedonia, whether they are declared as originating in Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia and Serbia or not.

“TECH-FAB Europe considers the effective enforcement of EU trade defence measures essential to ensuring fair competition and maintaining a level playing field for all market participants,” states Dario Buzzi, President of TECH-FAB Europe.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1925[ii], published on 7 August 2026, indicates that the Commission received sufficient evidence of circumvention including, among other practices, transhipment via Kosovo* and assembly or completion operations in Moldova, North Macedonia and Serbia involving Chinese glass fibre yarns and/or rovings.

With the registration of imports, all imports since initiation are potentially subject to anti-circumvention measures

Since the Regulation entered into force on 8 August 2026, customs authorities in the EU Member States have been required to register imports of the OMF concerned that are consigned from Kosovo*, Moldova, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Should the investigation confirm circumvention, as expected, anti-dumping duties of an appropriate amount would then be levied retroactively on registered imports from the date the investigation was opened.

In the light of this risk, importers, distributors and customers are well-advised to carefully assess their sourcing, as all imports from 8 August 2026 forward coming from the subject countries may be subject to substantial additional duties of 62.9%. Using an EU-based trader or distributor does not remove the products concerned from the scope of the ongoing investigation (R866) or the final measures.

TECH-FAB Europe’s commitment

TECH-FAB Europe will continue to cooperate fully with the European Commission throughout the investigation and remains committed to supporting fair competition, safeguarding European manufacturing and ensuring that EU trade defence measures remain effective.

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[i] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

[ii] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/1925/oj/eng