BEIJING — China has announced steep anti-dumping duties of up to 74.9% on imports of POM copolymer plastic from the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Taiwan, effective Sunday (18/5).

POM copolymer is an engineering plastic widely used as a substitute for metals such as copper and zinc, with applications ranging from automotive and electronic parts to medical equipment.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said the decision followed an investigation launched in May 2024, in response to sharp tariff hikes by the United States on Chinese products, including electric vehicles and computer chips.

According to details reported by the South China Morning Post on Monday (19/5), the new duties by country of origin are: United States 74.9%—the highest, followed by the European Union at 34.5%, Japan at 35.5%—except for Asahi Kasei Corp, which faces a special rate of 24.5%, and Taiwan at 32.6%, with Formosa Plastics and Polyplastics Taiwan receiving significantly lower rates of 4% and 3.8%, respectively.

The Ministry revealed that a preliminary investigation in January 2025 found evidence of dumping practices harming domestic industry. As a result, temporary duties were imposed in the form of deposits starting 24 January 2025.

The move comes amid hopes for an improvement in trade relations between China and the US, after both nations agreed to reduce retaliatory tariffs as part of a 90-day truce.

However, according to the Global Times, a state-run Chinese outlet, the agreement must be extended if trade tensions are to be eased permanently.

Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group issued a warning about fundamental challenges facing the global trade system, in a communiqué released following its recent meeting in South Korea on Friday. (EF/ZH)