| Entity | European Union (origin of the investigated imports; no exporter named) |
|---|---|
| Counterparty | 江苏淮河化工有限公司 and 湖北东方化工有限公司 (applicants, on behalf of the Chinese p-nitrotoluene industry) |
| Date | 3 Oct 2026 |
| Status | Charged |
| Instrument | 商务部公告2026年第44号 (MOFCOM Announcement No. 44 of 2026); Anti-Dumping Regulations, Article 16 |
| Region | China & Restricted |
MOFCOM opened an anti-dumping investigation into p-nitrotoluene originating in the European Union, effective 3 October 2026, under Announcement No. 44 of 2026. The notice imposes no duty and publishes no dumping margin. Exposure is to EU-origin shipments of this intermediate under tariff line 29042020; other products under that line are outside the scope.
Who this affects
- For exporters: EU-origin exporters of p-nitrotoluene (对硝基甲苯 / 4-硝基甲苯; p-Nitrotoluene, PNT, p-NT, 4-NT; HS 29042020) are the investigated parties and must register with the Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau within 20 days of publication.
- For investors: The announcement sets no duty and states no margin, volume, or price. The investigation normally ends before 3 October 2027 and may be extended six months.
- For counsel/compliance: Registration and written comments on product scope, applicant standing, and the investigated origin are due within 20 days of publication; questionnaires are normally issued within 10 working days after the registration deadline.
- For policymakers: The initiation rests on Article 16 of the Anti-Dumping Regulations after an application received 14 September 2026. It is a trade-remedy case opening, not an export-control listing.
The read
The notice is an Article 16 initiation, not a finding and not a control-list action. Scope is confined to EU-origin p-nitrotoluene; the announcement states that other products under 29042020 are outside the investigation. The text names the uses — intermediates for p-toluidine, DSD acid, p-nitrobenzoic acid, toluene diisocyanate, and o-tolidine, feeding dyes, pigments, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals — and names no EU exporter. The record as published contains no margin, volume, or price series.
What was the action?
On 3 October 2026 MOFCOM initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of p-nitrotoluene originating in the European Union. The application was filed on 14 September 2026 by 江苏淮河化工有限公司 and 湖北东方化工有限公司 on behalf of the Chinese industry. MOFCOM states that the combined output of the applicants meets Articles 11 and 13, and that the application contains the content and evidence required by Articles 14 and 15.
What’s the penalty / scope, and how is it set?
No penalty or duty is set. The action opens the case. The dumping period is 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026; the injury period is 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2026. The product is p-nitrotoluene, formula C₇H₇NO₂, a light-yellow to light-brown solid at 25°C, insoluble in water, classified under 29042020. MOFCOM may investigate by questionnaire, sampling, hearing, and on-site verification.
Who else is exposed?
Named parties are the two applicants and EU-origin imports of this product. No EU producer or exporter is named. Downstream uses stated in the notice are dyes, pigments, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. Other products under tariff line 29042020 are not in scope.
What happens next
Interested parties have 20 days from publication to register and to file written comments. Questionnaires normally follow within 10 working days after registration closes. The investigation normally ends before 3 October 2027, extendable by six months. A duty would require a later determination; this announcement does not make one.