The Commerce Department said on Tuesday that China will impose anti-dumping duties on phenol imports from the United States, the European Union, South Korea, Japan and Thailand from September 6.
Phenol imports is widely used in household products and as an intermediate in industrial synthesis to produce plastics and related materials.
The ministry said in a statement that phenol dumping in these countries and regions has caused “substantial damage” to China’s domestic industry. The statement said that tariffs ranging from 10.6% to 287.2% will last for five years.
For example, most US companies in the industry, such as INEOS Americas LLC, face up to 287.2% anti-dumping duties. It imposes an anti-dumping duty of up to 23.7% on South Korea and an anti-dumping duty of up to 28.6% on Thailand.
ICIS, a petrochemical market information provider, said the US is the second largest source of phenol imports in China in 2018, while South Korea is the largest contributor to China’s phenol imports.
Last year, in response to requests from the domestic phenol industry, the ministry decided to launch an anti-dumping investigation on imported phenol originating from these economies.
The ministry stated that the investigation was conducted in strict accordance with Chinese laws, regulations and the rules of the World Trade Organization.
