China’s Ministry of Commerce yesterday announced that polycarbonate imported from Taiwan would be subject to anti-dumping duties starting today for a period of five years.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed its final determination on anti-dumping measures for imported polycarbonate originating from Taiwan.
Based on its investigation, the ministry concluded that dumping practices were causing harm to China’s polycarbonate industry.
Photo: CNA
According to Taiwan’s Customs Administration data, exports of polycarbonate to China last year amounted to about US$830 million, making it the largest market for Taiwan’s polycarbonate exports, accounting for about 78.5 percent of the total.
Polycarbonate was included as an item in the “early harvest” list of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between Taiwan and China signed in 2010.
Academics have suggested the decision to impose anti-dumping duties on polycarbonate, a material used in various sectors including electronics, automotive, optics, packaging, medical devices and safety equipment, is part of China’s response to broader geopolitical tensions and pressures.
The anti-dumping investigation into imported polycarbonate from Taiwan was initiated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in November 2022, with preliminary findings released in August last year confirming dumping practices and substantial harm to China’s polycarbonate industry.
The interim anti-dumping duties imposed on Taiwanese polycarbonate were as high as 22.4 percent.
However, the investigation, originally scheduled to conclude on May 29, saw its final determination announced yesterday ahead of the inauguration of president-elect William Lai (賴清德) on May 20.
The announcement also outlined specific anti-dumping duties for Taiwanese companies, including Taiwan Chemical Fiber Corp (9 percent), Idemitsu Chemicals Taiwan Corp (9 percent), Chimei Corp (12.2 percent), Chi Lin Technology Co, Ltd (12.2 percent) and other Taiwanese entities (22.4 percent).
Taiwan’s Executive Yuan spokesman Lin Tzu-lun (林子論) said yesterday that China’s actions contribute nothing to normalizing cross-strait trade and are unfair toward Taiwanese businesses.
Lin urged China not to politically manipulate trade and to allow cross-strait commerce to return to international norms.
Additional reporting by Chung Li-hua
TRAGEDY STRIKES TAIPEI: The suspect died after falling off a building after he threw smoke grenades into Taipei Main Station and went on a killing spree in Zhongshan A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and seven injured, including one in critical condition, as of press time last night. The suspect, identified as a man surnamed Chang Wen (張文), allegedly began the attack at Taipei Main Station, the Taipei Fire Department said, adding that it received a report at 5:24pm that smoke grenades had been thrown in the station. One man in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a cardiac arrest
A car bomb killed a senior Russian general in southern Moscow yesterday morning, the latest high-profile army figure to be blown up in a blast that came just hours after Russian and Ukrainian delegates held separate talks in Miami on a plan to end the war. Kyiv has not commented on the incident, but Russian investigators said they were probing whether the blast was “linked” to “Ukrainian special forces.” The attack was similar to other assassinations of generals and pro-war figures that have either been claimed, or are widely believed to have been orchestrated, by Ukraine. Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, 56, head
SAFETY FIRST: Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured. In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours. For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
RSS