China yesterday slapped anti-dumping duties on certain nylon imports from four trade partners, with the highest tariff imposed on material from the US.
The move comes a day after Washington launched an investigation into alleged dumping of aluminum parts known as extrusions from China, potentially raising tensions between the two sides.
The Chinese commerce ministry said importers would have to pay an anti-dumping duty of 29.3 to 96.5 percent on nylon 6 imported from the US. Tariffs ranging from 4 to 23.9 percent will be imposed on nylon 6 imports from Taiwan, the EU and Russia, the ministry said on its Web site.
Nylon 6 is a compound widely used in the auto, textile and food sectors.
The penalties will be effective for five years. The ministry did not disclose the value of the products.
Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in another market at less than its normal value — generally taken to mean the price in the domestic market or the production cost.
The US Department of Commerce said on Wednesday it had opened an investigation into alleged dumping of aluminum extrusions from China that was helped by possible government subsidies.
Aluminum extrusions are used in window and door frames and sills, gutters, solar power frames, automotive parts, furniture parts and a variety of other consumer and industrial goods.
The department said imports of aluminum extrusions from China increased 90 percent from 2007 to last year, allegedly because of subsidies estimated at 32.5 to 33.3 percent. The Chinese imports were valued at US$514 million.
“The US International Trade Commission [ITC] is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or about May 17, 2010,” the department said in a statement.
“If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports from China are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic industry, the investigations will continue,” it said.
If that happens, the department said it would make a preliminary determination in June on whether China in fact provided subsidies and a preliminary determination in September on whether the products were being sold at below cost.
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