China EU Photo:VCG

China does not want to see trade tensions with the EU escalate and will closely monitor the EU’s subsequent actions to ensure the protection of the legitimate rights of Chinese companies, He Yadong, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said on Thursday in response to the EU's reported plan to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese titanium dioxide starting in January 2025.

EU members approved plans to impose final anti-dumping duties on imports of titanium dioxide (TiO2) from China, according to sources cited by Reuters on November 27. 

In July, the EU announced the imposition of a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of TiO2 originating in China, effective for six months.

The EU's latest move has faced opposition from the bloc's related industries.

The European Coatings Journal, a monthly journal for the coatings industry in the bloc, reported on November 26 that “anti-dumping duties on Chinese imports will affect the competitiveness of the EU paint industry.”

The white pigment is an important raw material for varnishes, paints and printing inks and accounts for up to 40 percent of raw material costs and 20 percent of the cost of the end product. Therefore, such punitive tariffs permanently threaten the viability of the EU paint industry, which has an annual turnover of 33 billion euros ($34.77 billion) and more than 150,000 jobs, the European Coatings Journal stated.

Since the beginning of 2024, the EU has launched 15 trade remedy investigations against China. China urges the EU to adhere to WTO rules, avoid abusing trade remedy measures, and work together to maintain the overall stability of China-EU economic and trade relations, He said.

On October 29, the EU announced plans to impose protectionist tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles of as much as 45.3 percent. Bilateral negotiations are ongoing to explore alternatives to resolve the dispute. 

Global Times