China conducts anti-dumping investigation on Japanese-made chemicals - raw materials for automobile rubber

[Beijing Current Affairs] China's Ministry of Commerce announced on the 6th that it has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports from Japan and the European Union (EU) of ethylidene norbornene (ENB), a synthetic rubber raw material used in car window frames and hoses. ENB appears to be aimed at protecting Chinese manufacturers, as Japanese and European companies are the world's main suppliers. Depending on the results of the investigation, additional tariffs may be imposed.

Japanese oil giant ENEOS Group has one of the world's largest ENB production capacities, and British chemical giant Ineos also produces in Belgium. The Chinese company that applied for the investigation was in competition with a company that handles ENEOS products in a tender to procure raw materials at the end of October.

In recent years, while China has been promoting domestic production of chemical raw materials, it has also conducted a series of anti-dumping investigations into chemical products imported from Japan, Europe, and America. The period covered by the investigation into unfair underselling is from July 2025 to June 2026. In principle, the investigation will be completed by November 6, 2027.