This Week in Manufacturing — Brussels (#30, 2026)
Commission launches Scaleup Europe Fund; provisional countervailing duty for thermal paper from China; steel safeguard measures for FTA partners; anti-dumping circumvention investigation on glass fibre fabrics.
August 02, 2026 to August 08, 2026
Commission launches Scaleup Europe Fund; provisional countervailing duty for thermal paper from China; steel safeguard measures for FTA partners; anti-dumping circumvention investigation on glass fibre fabrics.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
Scaleup Europe Fund established to boost European technology firms
On 3 August 2026, the European Commission completed the legal establishment of the Scaleup Europe Fund, following its announcement by President Ursula von der Leyen in the 2025 State of the Union Address. The Fund aims to help European technology scaleups grow globally, with a €5 billion target backed by Horizon Europe. EQT has been appointed as investment manager, selected via an open, competitive process, and has authority to independently make investment decisions. Initial investments are anticipated in the coming weeks, focusing on critical areas such as AI, quantum, biotechnology, and clean technologies. The roll-out involves a coalition of public and private partners, including Novo Holdings, EIFO, Santander/Mouro Capital, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, APG Asset Management, Wallenberg Investments, and Allianz.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Provisional countervailing duty imposed on lightweight thermal paper from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1914, published on 6 August 2026 (CELEX: 32026R1914), imposes a provisional countervailing duty on imports of lightweight thermal paper originating from the People's Republic of China. The Commission determined that the LWTP sector is an encouraged industry under Chinese industrial policy and found evidence of multiple subsidy schemes including preferential financing, grants, land use rights, and tax benefits. The investigation period covered October 2024 to September 2025. The provisional duty rates are set at 28.8% for Guangdong Guanhao High-Tech Co. and 70.5% for all other imports from China.
Investigation into circumvention of anti-dumping duties on glass fibre fabrics
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1925, dated 6 August 2026 (CELEX: 32026R1925), initiates a formal investigation into possible circumvention of anti-dumping measures imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/357 on imports of open mesh fabrics of glass fibres from China. The investigation targets imports consigned from Kosovo, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Serbia, whether declared as originating there or not, and makes such imports subject to registration. Tech-Fab Europe e.V. lodged the request for investigation, citing evidence of transhipment, assembly operations, and injurious pricing. Registration of relevant imports is applied for up to nine months following the Regulation's entry into force.
Steel safeguard measures implemented for FTA partner countries
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1930, published 4 August 2026 (CELEX: 32026R1930), implements bilateral safeguard measures on imports of certain steel products from countries with EU free trade agreements—including Albania, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Türkiye—following entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2026/1384. Safeguard measures apply an out-of-quota duty of 50% ad valorem after exhaustion of country-specific or global tariff quotas. The decision follows findings of increased imports and injury to the Union steel industry.
CAP rules amended to enable flexible advance payments due to fertiliser price surge
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1906, dated 31 July 2026 (CELEX: 32026R1906), amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/128 to provide more flexible rules for advance payment of direct payments under CAP, in response to fertiliser price increases linked to the Middle East crisis. Advances for claim year 2026 paid before 16 October 2026 are deemed effected in November 2026 for budget purposes, ensuring support is reimbursed in early 2027.
CAP Strategic Plans updated to introduce interventions for fertiliser crisis relief
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1897, dated 31 July 2026 (CELEX: 32026R1897), amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2289 to update CAP Strategic Plan requirements following Regulation (EU) 2026/1768. The amendment provides for a new intervention type under rural development, targeting farmers affected by high fertiliser prices due to the Middle East crisis, with guidance on detailed information to be included in strategic plans.
Performance values specified for CO2 emissions of car and van manufacturers
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1907, dated 29 July 2026 (CELEX: 32026D1907), specifies values related to CO2 emission performance for manufacturers and pools of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles for calendar year 2024, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/631. The decision reflects data adjustments following error notifications and includes excess emissions premiums for four manufacturers based on compliance data.
What We're Reading This Week
- Blackout risk? Inside the pushback against Europe’s battery boom: European initiatives to expand battery production face resistance amid concerns over energy supply, environmental impact, and grid stability.
