BEIJING, Oct 3 — China’s commerce ministry launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of a widely used production chemical from the European Union today, less than a week before the bloc’s trade chief was due in Beijing for talks.
A spokesperson for Beijing’s commerce ministry said China’s domestic industry had requested the investigation into whether imports from the EU of low-priced p-nitrotoluene were flooding the Chinese market, complaining of “damage to production and operations”.
The chemical is used in the production of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides.
Simmering trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels have threatened to become a full-blown trade war as the 27-nation bloc scrambles to defend its industries against a flood of Chinese exports critics argue are supported by vast subsidies.
