Industry Associations Build Export Bases to Fight Anti-Dumpi

[Abstract]:Industry Associations Spearhead Export Base Creation to Combat Anti-Dumping and Tariffs

Since 2025, in the face of rising global trade protectionism, an increase in anti-dumping investigations, and escalating tariff barriers, the Fastener Branch of the China General Machinery Components Industry Association (CGMA), in collaboration with local industry associations, has actively advanced the creation of "National Fastener Product Export Bases." Simultaneously, by organizing enterprises to participate in international exhibitions and establishing an export data-sharing platform, these associations are helping businesses navigate trade risks from multiple dimensions. As a result, China's fastener exports reached $21 billion in the first half of 2025, marking an 8.5% year-on-year increase. Notably, exports to the ASEAN market surged by 47%, effectively alleviating reliance on US and European markets.

Navigating a Complex Trade Environment
In recent years, the trade environment for China's fastener exports has become increasingly complex. In the first half of 2025, the US imposed a punitive 34% tariff on Chinese fasteners, causing exports to the US to plummet by 62%. Meanwhile, the EU initiated anti-dumping investigations into Chinese stainless steel fasteners involving $1.2 billion, while emerging markets like Brazil and India also raised import tariffs, placing immense pressure on exporters. Data shows that the average profit margin for Chinese fastener exporters dropped from 18% in 2024 to 12%, forcing some small and medium-sized enterprises unable to withstand these trade risks to exit international markets. Against this backdrop, the supportive role of industry associations has become more critical than ever.

Establishing National Export Bases
Advancing the creation of "National Fastener Product Export Bases" is a core initiative to tackle these trade challenges. Currently, the association has partnered with the Zhejiang Fastener Industry Association to declare Ningbo and Haiyan as core areas for a national export base. This base encompasses over 800 fastener enterprises and achieved export sales of $12 billion in 2024, accounting for 28% of the nation's total. The creation of the base will unlock multifaceted support:

Policy: Enterprises within the base will enjoy benefits such as accelerated export tax rebates and streamlined customs clearance.
Funding: The government will establish a 1 billion RMB special export fund to provide low-interest loans.
Services: A national-level testing and certification center will be built to offer one-stop international certification services.
Having passed the preliminary review, the base is expected to be officially approved by the end of 2025. It will become China's first national-level fastener export base, projected to drive a 20% increase in regional export volume.

Expanding Global Markets through International Exhibitions
Organizing enterprises to attend international exhibitions remains a vital pathway for expanding overseas markets. In the first half of 2025 alone, the association organized over 500 enterprises to participate in 12 major international events, including the Westec Industrial Show in the US, the Hannover Messe in Germany, and the ASEAN Hardware Exhibition, securing on-site contracts totaling $3.5 billion.
At the Westec Industrial Show, the association set up a "China Fastener Zone" featuring 20 companies like Ningbo Yongnian and Haiyan Yuxing. Showcasing high-end products compliant with ASTM standards, they attracted major buyers such as General Motors and Ford, achieving on-site deals worth $520 million. Leveraging RCEP tariff reductions at the ASEAN Hardware Exhibition, products like stainless steel fasteners and automotive-specific bolts were highly sought after, resulting in $880 million in contracts—a 65% increase from the previous session. To further incentivize participation, the association provided booth subsidies of up to 35,000 RMB per enterprise, distributing over 20 million RMB in total subsidies during the first half of the year.

Mitigating Risks with a Data-Sharing Platform
Establishing the "China Fastener Export Data-Sharing Platform" serves as a crucial pillar for preventing trade risks. Developed jointly with the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Commerce, this platform provides real-time updates on tariff policies, trade barriers, and anti-dumping dynamics across 60 countries and regions, alongside export data analysis and market early warnings. Enterprises can use the platform to track demand shifts and competitor activities in target markets to proactively avoid risks. With over 2,300 registered enterprises, the platform has issued 28 trade alerts, helping 23 companies successfully counter anti-dumping investigations and averting losses exceeding 300 million RMB. For instance, an early warning about Brazil's planned tariff hike on bolts allowed a Ningbo-based enterprise to pivot its strategy and redirect orders to Peru and Chile, avoiding a potential $20 million loss.

Harmonizing Standards and Ensuring Compliance
Furthermore, the association is actively driving the alignment of domestic industry standards with international norms by participating in the work of the ISO/TC 2 standards committee. China's technological advancements in smart and low-carbon fasteners have been incorporated into international standards; the association has led the formulation of 3 international standards and participated in 12 others, effectively reducing technical barriers to trade. Additionally, compliance training sessions featuring legal experts on international trade rules and anti-dumping response strategies have been held 15 times in the first half of the year, training over 2,000 personnel.

The Secretary-General of the Fastener Branch stated that the association will continue to advance the creation of export bases and the expansion of international markets. Plans for 2026 include organizing enterprises to attend 15 international exhibitions and expanding the data-sharing platform's coverage to 80 countries. These efforts aim to help enterprises build a "diversified, resilient, and risk-resistant" export system, fostering the high-quality development of China's fastener export trade.

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Industry Associations Build Export Bases to Fight Anti-Dumpi

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