The European Commission has dropped investigations into allegations of illegal dumping and state subsidies favouring Indian and Malaysian fastener exporters after EU producers withdrew their complaints.

"By its letter of 1 April 2010 to the Commission, EIFI (the European Industrial Fasteners Institute) formally withdrew its complaint," the EU said in its official.

European producers say they will refile amended complaints in the coming months.

Border tariffs protecting Europe's fastener makers from rival products are already in place against China, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. (Reuters)