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China has announced anti-dumping duties on imports of polyformaldehyde copolymer—a widely used industrial plastic—from the United States, the European Union, Taiwan, and Japan, following the conclusion of an investigation into alleged unfair trade practices. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that the tariffs, ranging from 3.8% to 74.9%, came into effect on Monday.
Polyformaldehyde copolymer is a high-performance plastic frequently used in the production of automobile components, household appliances, and medical devices due to its strength, rigidity, and resistance to wear. According to the ministry, the investigation found that producers from the named regions had been exporting the product at prices considered below fair market value, a practice known as dumping, which can harm domestic manufacturers.
The announcement came shortly after China and the United States agreed to temporarily ease some of the mutual tariffs applied during their protracted trade dispute. That agreement introduced a 90-day suspension on certain duties, which both sides framed as a step toward managing bilateral economic tensions.
The decision follows a pattern of anti-dumping measures that China has implemented in recent years, often involving economies with which it has broader trade disagreements. Chinese authorities noted that the new tariffs are intended to safeguard the domestic industry from what they assessed as injurious pricing behavior.
In addition to the United States, the tariffs also apply to exporters based in the European Union, Taiwan and Japan. The inclusion of these economies reflects China’s ongoing use of anti-dumping procedures beyond bilateral conflicts. In April, similar measures were imposed on certain European spirits, notably brandy, in a move that affected France's cognac industry.
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