China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday that it had launched an anti-dumping investigation into p-nitrotoluene imports from the European Union. The chemical is used in dyes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.
The ministry opened the probe after China’s domestic industry filed a formal complaint, alleging that dumped imports were causing material injury to local manufacturers. Preliminary evidence indicated that import volumes remained high from 2022 to 2025, while prices fell by nearly 60%.
The investigation is the latest in a series of trade measures between Beijing and Brussels, adding to concerns about escalating economic friction. It comes ahead of planned talks between EU and Chinese trade officials and follows several recent EU anti-dumping investigations into Chinese chemicals.