{"id":2855,"date":"2026-10-31T20:11:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T20:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/eu-registers-chinese-and-korean-cellulose-ether-imports-from-oct-31\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T20:11:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T20:11:57","slug":"eu-registers-chinese-and-korean-cellulose-ether-imports-from-oct-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/eu-registers-chinese-and-korean-cellulose-ether-imports-from-oct-31\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Registers Chinese and Korean Cellulose Ether Imports from Oct. 31"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

European Union customs must register cellulose ether imports from China and South Korea from Oct. 31, 2026, allowing backdated anti-dumping duties.<\/p>\n

The European Commission ordered EU customs on Oct. 31, 2026 to register imports of certain cellulose ethers from China and South Korea1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

These chemicals are thickeners made from wood pulp. The order covers six types, including methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In short, these shipments still clear customs and pay no new duty today. But customs will keep a record of each one, so the EU can later charge anti-dumping duties on them backdated.<\/p>\n

What does the cellulose ether registration order do?<\/h2>\n

The order is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026\/2391, adopted on Oct. 29, 20261<\/a><\/sup>. It was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on Oct. 30, 2026 and took effect on Oct. 31, 2026<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The registration order at a glance<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Point<\/th>Provision<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Legal act<\/th>Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026\/2391<\/td><\/tr>\n
Goods<\/th>Six cellulose ethers, CN ex 3912 39 85<\/td><\/tr>\n
Origins<\/th>China and South Korea<\/td><\/tr>\n
Customs task<\/th>Register each import<\/td><\/tr>\n
Duration<\/th>Nine months from Oct. 31, 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

It tells the customs authorities of all EU member states to register imports of the listed cellulose ethers from China and Korea1<\/a><\/sup>. Registration means customs keeps a record of each shipment. The goods are not stopped or taxed at this stage.<\/p>\n

The purpose is to allow duties charged backdated<\/strong>, also called retroactive duties1<\/a><\/sup>. If the EU later sets anti-dumping duties, it can reach back to shipments that entered while registration was running. An anti-dumping duty is an extra import tax on goods sold abroad below their normal price.<\/p>\n

Why did the Commission act on cellulose ethers?<\/h2>\n

The order follows an anti-dumping investigation that the Commission opened on Sept. 24, 20261<\/a><\/sup>. It announced the case in a notice of initiation in the Official Journal2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Three European producers asked for the case. Ashland Industries Nederland BV, Ashland Specialties Belgium BV and SE Tylose GmbH & Co. KG filed the complaint on Aug. 10, 20262<\/a><\/sup>. They filed it on behalf of the EU industry for these products2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The producers say imports from the two countries have grown in volume and in market share2<\/a><\/sup>. According to the notice, these imports hurt EU makers’ sales, prices, market share, finances and jobs2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The Commission chose to start registration on its own initiative1<\/a><\/sup>. It did so under Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016\/1036, the EU’s basic law against dumped imports1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

How large could the future duties be?<\/h2>\n

The registration order repeats estimates from the complaint. For China, the complaint puts the dumping margin at 120% to 130%<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. The dumping margin measures how far the export price falls below a fair price.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Dumping margins estimated in the complaint, % (midpoint of range)<\/h4>\n
\n China<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n 120% to 130%<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
\n South Korea<\/span>\n <\/span><\/span>\n 45% to 55%<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div><\/figure>\n

For Korea, the complaint estimates a dumping margin of 45% to 55%<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>. The complaint also estimates the level needed to remove the harm to EU makers. That figure is 120% to 140% for China and 40% to 60% for Korea1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Under EU rules, any duty would normally be set at the lower of the two levels1<\/a><\/sup>. These numbers come from the complainants, not from the Commission’s own findings.<\/p>\n

The Commission says it cannot yet estimate the amount of any future duty1<\/a><\/sup>. It says the complaint’s figures are for information only and should create no expectations1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Why could China face the full dumping margin?<\/h2>\n

The complaint also claims that a key raw material is priced unfairly low in China. That material is chemical wood pulp, which makes up more than 17% of production costs<\/strong>2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

According to the complaint, China withdrew a value added tax (VAT) refund on exports of this pulp2<\/a><\/sup>. The complainants compared Chinese pulp prices with export prices from the United States2<\/a><\/sup>. They say Chinese prices are well below world market levels2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

If the Commission finds such raw material distortions, it may set the duty at the full dumping margin1<\/a><\/sup>. It would do this if a lower duty would not be enough to remove the harm to EU makers1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

How did the complaint measure prices in China and Korea?<\/h2>\n

For China, the complainants argue that domestic prices and costs cannot be used2<\/a><\/sup>. They point to state influence over the economy, including in land, energy, capital, raw materials and labour2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

They say several large Chinese makers of cellulose ethers are linked to state-owned companies2<\/a><\/sup>. They also name Chinese industrial plans, including "Made in China 2025"2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

For this reason, the complaint builds a fair price for China from undistorted costs. It suggests Brazil as the comparison country<\/strong>2<\/a><\/sup>. For Korea, the complaint builds a fair price from production costs, overheads and profit, because reliable domestic price data were missing2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Which cellulose ether products are covered?<\/h2>\n

The order covers six cellulose ethers, in any colour, physical form or grade1<\/a><\/sup>. They are listed by their CAS number, a standard chemical identity number:<\/p>\n