Især i EU 's fattigeste regioner lider industrien under en illoyal konkurrence, navnlig fra lande uden for Europa med lave lønninger og lav social beskyttelse, hvilket betyder tab af markedsandele, virksomhedslukninger, nedlæggelse af et stort antal arbejdspladser, virksomhedflytninger og en stigning i illegalt arbejde.
This industry, especially in the poorest nations of the EU, suffers from unfair competition, more particularly in the low-paid countries with inadequate welfare protection, located outside of Europe, which results in a loss of market share, factory closures, very many job losses, delocalization and a growth in undeclared employment.