China Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Plastics from US, EU, Japan, and Taiwan

Trade Tensions Continue as China Targets Plastic Imports, Impacting Auto, Electronics, and Medical Industries.

BEIJING: China has announced the imposition of anti-dumping duties, reaching as high as 74.9 percent, on imports of POM copolymers, a specialized engineering plastic, originating from the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan. This decision follows an investigation by the Chinese commerce ministry.

The investigation, initiated in May 2024, shortly after the US increased tariffs on Chinese imports, concluded that dumping was taking place. POM copolymers are designed to partially substitute metals such as copper and zinc, and are utilized in a variety of sectors, including automotive components, electronics manufacturing, and medical equipment production.

Initial findings from January determined the presence of dumping practices, leading to the implementation of preliminary anti-dumping measures in the form of a deposit starting January 24.

The final announcement details that imports from the United States will face the highest anti-dumping rates, at 74.9 percent. Shipments from the European Union will be subject to duties of 34.5 percent.

Japan will see duties of 35.5 percent levied on its imports, with an exception granted to Asahi Kasei Corp, which received a company-specific rate of 24.5 percent.

Imports from Taiwan will generally face duties of 32.6 percent, though Formosa Plastics and Polyplastics Taiwan were assigned individual rates of 4 percent and 3.8 percent respectively.

This move comes amidst fluctuating trade relations. Hopes for a de-escalation of the US-China trade war rose recently, following an agreement to reduce reciprocal tariffs within a 90-day truce. The Global Times suggested this truce should be extended. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group of nations, following a meeting in South Korea, issued a communique warning of "fundamental challenges" impacting the global trading system.