China launched a countervailing duty investigation into imports of certain monoalkyl ethers of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol originating in the U.S., the Ministry of Commerce said Sept. 14, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation by Sept. 14, 2021.
China will impose countervailing measures on imports of n-propanol from the United States, a Sept. 4 Ministry of Commerce notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said its n-propanol industry has suffered “substantial damage” due to the U.S. imports. Beginning Sept. 9, Chinese “import operators” must pay Chinese customs authorities at rates between 34.2% and 37.7%, the notice said.
South Korea eliminated antidumping duties on imports of Japanese pneumatic transmission valves, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Aug. 19. Japan had raised a dispute with the World Trade Organization, arguing that South Korea imposed the duties past their scheduled five-year expiration date. “It was unfortunate that [South Korea] continued imposing the duties beyond May 30, 2020, the original deadline,” Japan said. “[South Korea] cannot be recognized as having performed its duties sincerely.” Japan said the duties were eliminated Aug. 19 and it will “refrain from taking further legal procedures … such as retaliatory measures.” The WTO Appellate Body had ruled on Sept. 10, 2019, that South Korea was not adhering to WTO tariff implementation agreements and recommended it bring its measures into conformity, which South Korea agreed to do by May 30.
The Aug. 28 meeting of the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body in Geneva will include the European Union's arguments that with Airbus launch subsidies resolved, the billions of dollars in tariffs on French wine, Airbus planes, Scottish whisky and other products should be lifted. The U.S. will also weigh in.
China’s Commerce Ministry began an antidumping investigation into imports of Australian wine in containers holding 2 liters or less, an Aug. 18 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation by Aug. 18, 2021.
China began a countervailing duty investigation on imports of U.S. polyphenylene ether, an Aug. 14 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation by Aug. 14, 2021. The country recently launched an antidumping duty investigation into the same imports from the U.S. (see 2008030018).
China will continue to impose antidumping duties on imports of “single-mode optical fibers” from India, an Aug. 13 Ministry of Commerce notice said, according to an unofficial translation. The duties will continue for five years from Aug. 14.
The United Kingdom will continue to impose countervailing and antidumping duties on imports of U.S. biodiesel, including biodiesel consigned from Canada, after the U.K. leaves the European Union, the country said Aug. 10. The determination filled a “call for evidence” from U.K. companies to examine trade remedies imposed by the EU that “matter to U.K. industry,” it said.
The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Aug. 10 (some may also be given separate headlines):
China has begun an antidumping investigation on imports of U.S. polyphenylene ether, an Aug. 3 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. China said it expects to complete the investigation before Aug. 3, 2021.