EU orders registration of Chinese, Korean cellulose ethers imports

Customs authorities across the Union must register imports of certain cellulose ethers from China and KoreaEuropa, so that anti-dumping duties can later be levied retroactively on those registered imports if the conditions are metEuropa. Registration creates no duty itself: any future liability will emanate from the findings of the ongoing anti-dumping investigation, and whether duties can be collected retroactively will be assessed in the regulation imposing definitive duties.

The registration covers six cellulose ethers — methyl cellulose (CAS 9004-67-5)Europa, hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS 9004-62-0 and 80455-45-4)Europa, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (CAS 9032-42-2)Europa, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (CAS 9004-65-3)Europa, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS 9004-58-4)Europa and methyl ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS 71714-29-9)Europa — regardless of colour, physical form or grade. The goods are currently classified under CN code ex 3912 39 85, under eight TARIC codes from 3912 39 85 30 to 3912 39 85 75Europa, and originate in the People's Republic of China and the Republic of KoreaEuropaEuropa. Following the start of the investigation the Commission amended the existing TARIC codes for monitoring purposes, a change with no impact on the scope of the investigation.

The registration follows the anti-dumping proceeding the Commission opened on 24 September 2026 by notice published in the Official Journal (C/2026/4924) for these origins. That opening followed a complaint lodged on 10 August 2026 by Ashland Industries Nederland BV, Ashland Specialties Belgium BV and SE Tylose GmbH & Co. KG, made on behalf of the Union industry of cellulose ethers in the sense of Article 5(4) of the basic Regulation. The Commission decided on its own initiative to subject the imports to registration under Article 14(5) of the basic RegulationEuropa.

The complaint's calculations put dumping margins at between 120% and 130% for China and between 45% and 55% for Korea, and the injury elimination level at between 120% and 140% for China and between 40% and 60% for Korea. Normally a future duty would be set at the lower of the dumping or injury level under Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation. If the investigation finds evidence of raw material distortions under Article 7(2a), the liability could instead be set at the dumping margin under Article 7(2b) where a lower duty would not remove the injury to Union industry. At this stage the Commission states it is not in a position to estimate the actual liability: the complaint figures are for information only and create no expectations as to the level that the investigation will establish.

Registration runs for nine monthsEuropa following the date the regulation enters into forceEuropa. The Official Journal edition carrying the regulation is dated 30 October 2026Europa, and Article 2 provides that the regulation enters into force on the day following its publicationEuropa, so it enters into force on 31 October 2026Europa and registration starts thenEuropa. Personal data collected in the context of the registration is treated under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. Importers, declarants and customs brokers moving the listed TARIC codes from China or Korea should expect their consignments to be registered from that dateEuropa, while any duty liability remains a matter for the investigation's findings. Legal basis: Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036Europa, applied by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2391Europa.