Case Handler - Trade Defence Instruments - European Commission (AST1, Brussels)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Commission on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Contribute to all aspects of trade defence investigations, from initiation up to adoption of appropriate remedies
• Collect and verify relevant economic and financial data from different stakeholders
• Calculate dumping/subsidy/injury margins and related duties or safeguard measures
• Analyze micro- and macro-economic injury indicators
• Draft proposals for remedies and their relevant implementing acts
• Disclose investigation findings to interested parties and defend them before EU Member States representatives
• Maintain contacts with EU producers, exporters in third countries and their legal representatives
• Travel in the EU and to third countries for business purposes

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Not explicitly stated
• Experience: Solid economic, accounting or auditing skills with demonstrated relevant work experience. Prior involvement in investigations or verifications would be a very strong asset.
• Languages: English (C1)
• Key skills: Excellent analytical skills, Strong sense of initiative, Ability to work under pressure to meet strict legal deadlines, Very strong data analysis skills, Proficiency with Excel, Ability to master and use in-house developed tailor-made software, Very good command and drafting skills in English, Excellent team player, Dynamic and motivated
• Eligibility: Must be a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen; must have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service; must be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post; must produce appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties.

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Submit CV and completed application form in a single PDF

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Temporary agent position (maximum 6 years in any EU Institution).

Working arrangements: Flexible working conditions including the possibility of teleworking.

Hiring unit: Unit TRADE.G.5 – Investigations IV. Relations with third countries, Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security….

Position details

Reference

TRADE/COM/2026/1717

Directorate-General

TRADE – Trade

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

27 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Case Handler - Trade Defence Instruments at European Commission based in Brussels at the AST1 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is TRADE/COM/2026/1717. It is hosted by TRADE – Trade, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the External Relations domain.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Do you want to help shape the future of the European Union? Make the planet greener, promote a fairer society, or support businesses and innovation across the EU? Then come and work for the European Commission where you can really make a difference!

Commission staff are a diverse group of people, who are motivated to help make Europe – and the world – a better place. They come from the 27 Member States of the European Union. Different nationalities, backgrounds, languages and cultures make the Commission a vibrant and inclusive place to work.

WE OFFER GREAT JOBS AND GREAT WORKING CONDITIONS:

- Interesting and challenging jobs with plenty of opportunities for training and acquiring new skills and competencies throughout your whole career

- Opportunities to move between different policy areas throughout your career

- A package of flexible working conditions including the possibility of teleworking – we care about your work-life balance

- A competitive financial package, including comprehensive healthcare, accident and pension schemes

- A multilingual, multicultural workplace where personal and career development are strongly promoted

- Multilingual schools for your children

We recruit from a wide range of backgrounds and actively promote diversity and inclusion:

We do not only recruit political scientists and lawyers but are also looking for all kinds of profiles, including scientists, linguists, IT experts, data analysts and economists, as well as drivers and engineers.

We are committed to equal opportunities and to fostering a rich, diverse and inclusive working environment. We aim for our workforce to be representative of European society and strongly welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We actively seek to create a workplace where each staff member feels valued and respected, can give their best and can develop to their full potential. 2TRADE/COM/2026/1717

To promote diversity and establish a geographically balanced pool of candidates, we strongly encourage applicants from Member States which are currently underrepresented in the European Commission workforce to apply. These Member States are currently Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden 1. Recruitment will however remain strictly based on the merits of all applicants and no positions will be reserved for nationals of any specific Member State.

For more information ec.europa.eu/work-with-us

STAFF RECRUITED ON CONTRACTS

In addition to permanent officials, the European Commission offers non-permanent positions. There are two categories of non-permanent staff:

temporary agents are recruited to fill vacant positions for a set amount of time or

to perform highly specialised tasks.

contract agents may provide additional capacity in specialised fields where an

insufficient number of officials is available or carry out a number of administrative or manual tasks. They are generally recruited for fixed-term contracts (maximum 6 years in any EU Institution), but in some cases they can be offered contracts for an indefinite duration (in offices, agencies, delegations or representations).

For more information on different staff categories

1 Please note that the list of underrepresented Member States may be subject to future amendment based on potential data changes over time.

3TRADE/COM/2026/1717

Case Handler – Trade Defence Instruments

Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (DG TRADE) of the European Commission

Selection reference: TRADE/COM/2026/1717

Domain: External relations

Where : Unit TRADE.G.5 – “Investigations IV. Relations with third countries“, Brussels

Staff category and Function Group : Temporary agent 2b –Assistant

Grade range: AST1-3

Publication deadline : 04/09/2026 - 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

DG Trade and Economic Security leads the EU’s common commercial policy, one of the exclusive

competences of the EU. Trade policy plays a critical role in enhancing the EU’s economic

competitiveness, shaping globalisation, and defending the EU from unfair trade practices and

threats to its economic security.

As an important part of its trade policy, the EU makes use of available autonomous tools such as

the EU Trade Defence Instruments (TDIs) (anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguards). These tools

protect our citizens and industries against unfair trade practices at international level – their

increased use in recent years, in a changing global context, is a testimony of a more assertive

European Union, necessary to put globalisation to good account and to ensure a level playing field

in international trade. The EU policy of TDIs and their implementation and execution are centralized

in Directorate G of DG Trade and Economic Security, under the supervision of the Chief Trade

Enforcement Officer.

Unit TRADE.G.5 is composed of some 30 colleagues working in three different sections. Two

sections are responsible for carrying out anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against

unfairly priced imports into the EU. A third section is in charge of safeguard policy and

investigations, as well as monitoring third countries’ trade defence actions against the EU.

WE PROPOSE

Unit TRADE.G.5 is seeking to recruit an Assistant Case Handler who will, as part of a team,

contribute to all aspects of trade defence investigations, from initiation up to the adoption of

appropriate remedies under the rules established in the anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard

regulations.

Typical tasks include contributing to: the collection and verification of relevant economic and 4TRADE/COM/2026/1717

financial data from different stakeholders (producers, traders, users, industry associations, law

firms), both within and outside the EU; the calculation of dumping/subsidy/injury margins and the

related anti-dumping, countervailing duties or safeguard measures; the analysis of micro- and

macro-economic injury indicators; the drafting of proposals for remedies and their relevant

implementing acts; and the disclosure of the investigation findings to interested parties, together

with their defence before the representatives of EU Member States.

Extensive contacts with EU producers, exporters in third countries and their legal representatives,

regular teamwork, as well as travelling in the EU and to third countries are important features of

this post.

In this position, the jobholder will see the results of his/her work in a very tangible way, such as

ensuring through concrete border measures a level playing field for EU industries and protecting EU

jobs against unfair competition or against sudden, increased import competition threatening the

viability of the Union industry. The position also offers a unique window into the details of how key

industries operate in the global economy, as well as an excellent opportunity for professional and

personal growth.

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated colleague willing to build up the knowledge and skills

needed to carry out trade defence investigations and to travel on business trips, that may

occasionally exceed two weeks.

The candidate should be an excellent team player, as trade defence investigations are always

conducted in teams of at least two case-handlers, supervised by a Head of section. Investigating

teams also make use of the extensive knowledge and expertise available in the Trade Defence

Directorate of DG Trade, where the working atmosphere and interaction are excellent and truly

cooperative.

The ideal candidate should have solid economic, accounting or auditing skills, as well as

demonstrated relevant work experience. Prior involvement in investigations or verifications would

be a very strong asset. The successful candidate should also combine excellent analytical skills with

a strong sense of initiative and the ability to work under pressure to meet strict legal deadlines on

several investigations at the same time. He/she should have very strong data analysis skills, be

proficient with Excel and willing to master and use in-house developed tailor-made software. A very

good command and drafting skills in English are required. Knowledge of other EU or third country

languages would be an asset.

In view of the specific requirements needed for the job, DG Trade and Economic Security provides a

mandatory two-week introduction course on trade defence instruments for new colleagues joining

Directorate G, as well as several other internal courses, including training on the use of specific

software, tailored to the needs of our staff. 5TRADE/COM/2026/1717

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV 2. completed application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to TRADE-G5-AST-

[email protected] indicating the selection reference TRADE/COM/2026/1717 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. 6TRADE/COM/2026/1717

ANNEX

1. Selection

 Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the following eligibility criteria when you validate your application :

Our rules provide that you can only be recruited as a temporary agent at the European Commission if you:

General criteria:

- Are a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen

- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service

- Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post

- Produce the appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AST1 runs from €3,754 (step 1) to €4,248 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €45,048 to €50,976 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €601 per month at step 1 of AST1) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Brussels. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 20 August 2026, 8 days ago.

The application deadline is 4 September 2026, 6 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 27 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AST1 see our AST1 grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at European Commission see the European Commission institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page; for related vacancies in the External Relations field browse our External Relations domain page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.