EU registers Chinese polyether polyols imports for possible retroactive duties

From 7 November 2026, customs authorities register every import of certain polyether polyolsEuropa originating in the People's Republic of ChinaEuropa. Registration does not itself impose any dutyEuropa, but it preserves the Commission's ability to levy definitive anti-dumping duties retroactively on the registered imports if the ongoing investigation ends with duties and the legal conditions for retroactive collection are metEuropa. Importers of the goods concerned, and the customs agents and trade-compliance lawyers handling their entries, should treat entries from the registration date as carrying contingent duty exposureEuropa.

The goods covered are certain polyether polyols: organic polymers containing multiple ether linkages and chemically unreacted hydroxyl groups, with a hydroxyl number between 10 and 520, obtained by polymerisation of a starter with ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide, currently classified under CN code ex 3907 29 20 (TARIC codes 3907 29 20 35 and 3907 29 20 90)Europa. Within that frame the measure reaches pure polyether polyols, blends of them, single or mixed polyether polyols containing dispersed polymeric solid particles, and formulations of one or more pure polyether polyols with additives such as flame retardants, surfactants or stabilisers and/or catalysts, whether or not they contain such particles. Antioxidants do not count as additives. A product falls inside the scope only if at least 50 % of its weight consists of pure polyether polyol or polyolsEuropa, where a pure polyether polyol means a single polyether polyol of which at least 90 % by weight is polyether polyol originating in China. Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) under CN code 3907 29 11 are expressly excluded. Polyether polyols classified as No-longer-polymers under the REACH Regulation remain covered.

Registration was ordered on the Commission's own initiative under Article 14(5) of the basic anti-dumping RegulationEuropa. It follows the anti-dumping proceeding opened on 30 June 2026 (notice C/2026/3478) after a complaint lodged on 8 June 2026 by BASF, Covestro, PCC Rokita, Shell and Chimcomplex on behalf of producers representing more than 25 % of total Union production. Whether duties can actually be collected retroactively will be assessed in the regulation imposing any definitive dutiesEuropa; any future liability flows from the findings of that investigation, not from the registration itselfEuropa.

The complaint estimated dumping margins of 101 %Europa and an injury elimination level of 60 % for the period 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 covered by the complaint's calculations. The investigation of dumping and injury in the underlying proceeding covers 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026Europa. Under the lesser-duty rule in Article 9(4) of the basic Regulation, any future liability would normally be set at the lower of the dumping or injury levelEuropa. If the Commission finds raw material distortions within the meaning of Article 7(2a), the liability could instead be set at the dumping-margin level under Article 7(2b) where a lower duty would not remove the injury to Union industry. The Commission states it is not yet in a position to estimate the future liabilityEuropa, so the complaint figures are information only and create no expectation about the duty eventually imposed.

Registration expires nine months after the entry into force of the Regulation, and personal data collected in that context is handled under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. In practice, affected importers should check the classification of current and contracted shipments against the TARIC codes, keep entry documentation that proves product composition and origin, and factor contingent duty at up to the levels signalled in the complaint into pricing and contract terms until the investigation concludes.

The measure is Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2409Europa of 5 November 2026Europa, adopted under Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 on protection against dumped importsEuropa.