The European Commission unveiled a surveillance tool on Thursday to track imports entering the EU using customs data. The new system is supplemented by data from EU member states and industries, enabling authorities to detect import surges from foreign countries in response to regulations and U.S. tariffs impacting global trade.

The framework is designed to prevent disruptive trade diversion by blocking the rerouting of large volumes of goods into the EU when they are restricted from other markets due to high tariffs. The surveillance tool will allow the European Commission to rapidly detect such import surges and take measures to safeguard the EU market from potential risks.

“With this new import surveillance tool, we are boosting our capacity to protect our interests and stop surges in imports diverted to our market,” EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said.

As reported by Euro News, the main concern revolves around the rerouting of Chinese products due to trade policies. During the peak of US-China trade tensions in April, Washington implemented tariffs as high as 145% on imports from China, intensifying the economic standoff.

To reinforce the initiative, the Commission is urging EU manufacturers, industry groups, and Member States to analyze import trends and contribute additional market insights and economic data relevant to the industry’s current landscape.

The new tool expands on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s initiative to establish an import surveillance task force to safeguard EU markets and industries. Since January 1, 2025, the task force will continue to track imports and other key indicators consistently, with findings regularly shared online for public access.

Furthermore, the Commission is initiating discussions with China to monitor trade and address any relevant developments.

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