Beijing launches anti-dumping investigation into European Union chemical exports

Beijing has launched an anti-dumping investigation into European exports of p-nitrochlorobenzene (p-nitrotoluene), an input used in dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and pigments. The announcement was made by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce this Saturday, following complaints from the local industry.

The move escalates trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing and comes after the European Union opened three anti-dumping investigations into Chinese chemicals last week, as well as consulting partners on a tool to reduce dependence on imports from China.

The discussions come ahead of crucial meetings in Beijing between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. The EU has set October as a deadline to reduce its trade deficit with the Asian country, currently at 1 billion euros per day, under threat of adopting new trade barriers at a leaders' summit at the end of the month.

According to the Chinese ministry, European exports of the product remained high between 2022 and 2025, while prices fell by 60%, meeting the requirements for investigation under local and World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Beijing's offensive also comes amid EU warnings to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham about the need to align tariffs on Chinese cars with European policies to avoid trade barriers from the bloc.

Brussels argues that Chinese controls on the export of rare earths — introduced last year in retaliation for US tariffs — have harmed European companies.

While the EU taxes Chinese industrial products, China has targeted European agricultural interests such as dairy, pork and brandy.