The Chinese government has launched an anti-dumping investigation into p-nitrotoluene imported from the European Union. The substance is an organic chemical compound used in the production of dyes, speciality chemicals and in the early stages of explosives synthesis.
This was reported by China’s Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry said the investigation was opened following an application from representatives of Chinese industry. According to the applicants’ preliminary data, imports of p-nitrotoluene from the EU remained high in 2022–2025, while its price fell by almost 60% overall.
China’s Ministry of Commerce claims that dumping of EU-imported products has harmed Chinese companies in the sector. The ministry noted that the application meets the conditions for launching an anti-dumping investigation under Chinese law and World Trade Organization rules.
“China will conduct the investigation in accordance with the law, protect the rights of all interested parties, and deliver an objective and fair decision,” the ministry said.
The ministry also said that since 2025 the European Union has initiated 28 investigations against China involving trade measures. About half of them, Beijing claims, concern chemical products.
At the same time, the ministry said China “consistently adheres to a prudent and restrained position” on the use of trade defence measures.
The investigation comes amid rising trade tensions between China and the European Union. The sides are increasingly applying anti-dumping and other trade measures against each other’s products.
P-nitrotoluene, or 4-nitrotoluene, is an organic compound in the class of aromatic nitro compounds. It is used to produce dyes, for organic synthesis and speciality chemicals, including in the early stages of explosives synthesis, including TNT.