Beijing turns up trade heat on EU with fresh anti-dumping investigation days before crucial talks

Beijing's commerce ministry has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of the chemical p-nitrotoluene from the European Union, just a week before a crucial trade meeting between EU and Chinese officials. The investigation was reportedly requested by China's domestic industry, claiming that low-priced imports from the EU are negatively impacting their production and operations.

The chemical, used in the manufacture of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, has been a point of contention in growing trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels. The EU has threatened countermeasures against China's alleged subsidized manufacturing, but Beijing denies this, stating that its companies' competitiveness is not based on state support.

The EU's trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, and Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao are set to meet on Thursday to discuss ways to prevent an escalation of trade measures. The Chinese investigation will last up to 12 months, with the possibility of a six-month extension. Beijing has reiterated that the EU must address its own economic and trade issues through direct dialogue and consultation.