The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry launched an anti-dumping investigation on the 16th into pigment primarily composed of Chinese titanium dioxide. The investigation will generally be completed within one year, after which a decision will be made on whether to impose anti-dumping duties.
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that they will launch an anti-dumping investigation into pigments whose primary component is titanium dioxide from China. The investigation follows an application from the Japan Titanium Dioxide Industry Association, which claimed that imports had taken domestic demand away from its members and forced them to cut prices.
The investigation covers pigments and powders based on rutile-type titanium dioxide, which are used in white paints for construction, automobiles and plastics. There is a view that demand for paints in China has remained weak amid the prolonged downturn in the property market, raising concerns that exports to Japan may increase.
The investigation is expected to be completed within 1 year in principle, after which the authorities will decide whether to impose anti-dumping duties.