9 Dec 2004
BEIJING (Dec. 8)--China's Ministry of Commerce started charging antidumping duties Nov. 30 of up to 15 percent against polychloroprene rubber imports from the U.S., Japan and the European Union. The ministry said it had been investigating polychloroprene rubber imports for a year, but didn't say why it began the investigation.
DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C., one of the world's largest producers of polychloroprene rubber, said it was studying the situation. Jim McGraw, managing director of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, said it was "rather typical" of China to levy such duties on polymers, but declined further comment.
Officials of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative did not answer e-mails on the subject. The Ministry of Commerce said China produces only about 20,000 tons of the 373,000 tons of polychloroprene rubber made worldwide each year, while the U.S., Japan, and the EU account for more than 80 percent of the total.
Statement from Chinese Ministry of Commerce
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