TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China announced it would impose anti-dumping duties on a type of plastic imported from companies in Taiwan, the US, EU, and Japan on Sunday. 

China’s Ministry of Commerce said that Taiwanese exporters of polyformaldehyde (POM) copolymers, a type of industrial-use plastic that can be used in place of some metals, will face duties of between 3.8% to 32.6%. US companies will face the highest duties, which have been set at 74.9%, reported Reuters.

The Chinese government alleges international plastic exporters have been dumping POM copolymers onto its market, which has damaged its domestic plastics industry. China began an investigation of plastic imports on May 19, 2024 after the US announced stiffer tariffs on electric vehicles and computer components manufactured in China. 

After announcing findings in January, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it would deliberate on punitive measures for the companies involved. China will begin enforcing the anti-dumping duties from Monday, one year after launching the investigation according to Chinese state media.

Two Taiwanese companies were mentioned by name for specific anti-dumping levies; Polyplastics Taiwan will be tariffed at 3.8%, and the Formosa Plastics will be tariffed at 4%. Other Taiwanese companies will face a general duty of 32.6%. 

POM copolymer imports from the European Union will incur a blanket duty of 34.5%. Japan’s Asahi Kasei Corporation will face a 24.5% duty, while other Japanese plastic companies will be tariffed at 35.5%, per Reuters.