Trade Commission recommends duties on Chinese and Taiwanese solid sodium hydroxide

The Trade Commission said Thursday it would recommend provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 38.89 percent on imports of solid sodium hydroxide from China and Taiwan after a preliminary ruling found injury to domestic industry.

The Trade Commission, chaired by Lee Jae-hyung, made the preliminary decision at its 476th meeting on Aug. 20. It said the provisional duties would prevent additional injury to domestic industry during the full investigation. Youngjin Co. filed the dumping complaint in March, and the investigation opened on April 7, 2026.

Formosa Plastics and other Taiwanese suppliers would face 38.89 percent. Proposed rates for Chinese exporters are 3.66 percent for Shandong Befar Group Dongrui Chemical and its affiliates, 22.21 percent for Skyey Impex, 19.93 percent for Tianjin Unilion Supply Chain, and 17.58 percent for other suppliers.

The duties cover solid rather than liquid sodium hydroxide. The white chemical is made by concentrating and processing liquid sodium hydroxide and is used in soap and detergent manufacturing, water treatment, process pH control, and the processing and refining of textiles, pulp and paper.

Solid sodium hydroxide has a standard tariff rate of 8.0 percent. The WTO agreement rate for Taiwan is 5.5 percent, while China has a zero rate under the Korea-China free trade agreement.

On the same day, the commission also held a hearing on its domestic-industry injury investigation involving Chinese flat photographic plates for printing plate-making. Domestic producers, importers and users attended and offered their views. The commission said it will make a final determination in October after reviewing the comments and conducting additional data investigation.