China has decided to adopt temporary anti-dumping measures on imports of polyformaldehyde copolymer originating in the United States, the European Union, China's Taiwan region and Japan, starting Jan 24, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday.
In response to an application filed by the polyformaldehyde copolymer industry of China, the Ministry of Commerce issued an announcement on May 19, 2024 to initiate an anti-dumping investigation on imports of polyformaldehyde copolymer originating in the United States, the European Union, Japan, and China's Taiwan region.
According to a preliminary ruling based on the findings of the anti-dumping investigation, imports of polyformaldehyde copolymer from the aforementioned regions involved dumping and caused substantial damage to the related domestic industry.
The importers concerned are required to place deposits with the Chinese customs when importing the products under investigation, based on margins of between 3.8 and 74.9 percent, according to the statement posted on the official website of the Ministry of Commerce.
Polyformaldehyde copolymer is primarily used in sectors including auto parts, electronic appliances, industrial machinery, sports equipment and medical equipment to partially replace copper, zinc, tin, lead and other metal materials.
China to adopt temporary anti-dumping measures on polyformaldehyde copolymer from U.S. EU, Japan, Taiwan region
The Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked since Saturday evening and will not reopen until the United States lifts its naval blockade on the waterway.
In a statement carried by its official news outlet Sepah News, the IGRC said that the move came after the United States violated its commitments under the two-week ceasefire, which took effect on April 8, and failed to end its naval blockade against Iranian vessels and ports.
The IRGC Navy called on all vessels and their owners to follow official updates via its channel and VHF Channel 16, the international maritime distress, safety, and calling frequency. The statements by U.S. President Donald Trump hold no credibility in the strait and the Gulf, it added.
The IRGC warned that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and any approach to the strait would be deemed "cooperation with the enemy" and targeted accordingly.
Tehran's political leadership echoed the IRGC's firm position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control, revealing that during previous negotiations, Iran had firmly countered U.S. attempts to carry out minesweeping operations, which Tehran viewed as a ceasefire violation.
He said the situation had come close to conflict, but the U.S. had eventually backed off.
Calling the U.S. maritime blockade "reckless and ignorant," Ghalibaf warned that passage through the strait would certainly be restricted if Washington does not lift the blockade.
Underpinning these public announcements, Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday affirmed the country's resolve to exercise control and supervision over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the war is definitively ended and lasting peace is achieved in the region.
For its part, the United States pressed ahead with its own military measures.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that the U.S. military is imposing a maritime blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports and nearby coastal areas. Since the blockade began on April 13, 23 ships have complied with U.S. directions to turn around.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military is preparing in the coming days to board Iran-linked oil tankers and seize commercial ships in international waters, The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing U.S. officials.
The move will enable the U.S. to take control of Iran-linked vessels around the world, including ships carrying Iranian oil that are already sailing outside the Persian Gulf and those carrying arms that could support Tehran, the report said.
Iran's IRGC says Strait of Hormuz blocked, demands end to US naval blockade
