Cellulose ethers from China and Korea face registration

Imports into the Union of certain cellulose ethers from China and Korea are subject to registrationEuropa from 31 October 2026Tulli for nine months, so that anti-dumping duties can later be levied retroactively on the registered imports if the investigation leads to definitive duties and the conditions for retroactivity are met. The Commission ordered registration on its own initiative, and any future liability will emanate from the findings of the anti-dumping investigation.

The product concerned is certain cellulose ethers, namely methyl cellulose (CAS 9004-67-5), hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS 9004-62-0 and 80455-45-4), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (CAS 9032-42-2), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (CAS 9004-65-3), ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS 9004-58-4) and methyl ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS 71714-29-9)Europa, regardless of colour, physical form or grade, originating in China and KoreaTulli. It is currently classified under CN code ex 3912 39 85, with TARIC codes 3912 39 85 30, 3912 39 85 60, 3912 39 85 70, 3912 39 85 71, 3912 39 85 72, 3912 39 85 73, 3912 39 85 74 and 3912 39 85 75. After the investigation opened, the Commission amended the existing TARIC codes for monitoring purposes, without affecting the scope of the investigation.

Registration is directed to the customs authorities under Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 on protection against dumped imports from non-EU countries. That provision allows imports to be made subject to registration, whose purpose is to ensure retroactive collection where the legal conditions are met. The assessment of those conditions is left to the regulation imposing any definitive duties. The Commission examines and decides on the introduction of anti-dumping duties for the Union as a whole; the Finnish Customs (Tulli) has no decision power and only reports the matter.

The registration follows an anti-dumping proceeding opened on 24 September 2026 by notice C/2026/4924, after a complaint lodged on 10 August 2026 by Ashland Industries Nederland BV, Ashland Specialties Belgium BV and SE Tylose GmbH & Co. KG on behalf of the Union industry within the meaning of Article 5(4) of the basic Regulation. The complaint estimated dumping margins of 120-130% for China and 45-55% for Korea, with injury elimination levels of 120-140% for China and 40-60% for Korea. Any future liability would normally be set at the lower of dumping or injury under Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation, rising to the dumping margin under Article 7(2b) if raw-material distortions under Article 7(2a) are found and a lower duty would not remove the Union industry's injury. At this stage the Commission states it cannot estimate the amount: the complaint figures are for information only and create no expectations as to the level resulting from the investigation.

Goods falling under the registration are identified by their TARIC codes on current consignments, with the later duty determination followed in the investigation. Registration expires nine months after the entry into force of the implementing regulation, which entered into force on the day after its 30 October 2026 publication.

The rules are stated in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2391, Articles 1 and 2, adopted under Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 following the initiation notice C/2026/4924.