China to maintain anti-dumping duties on ethylene propylene diene monomer imports from U.S., South Korea, EU

China will maintain anti-dumping duties on ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) imports from the United States, South Korea and the European Union (EU) during the one-year process of expiry review of the anti-dumping measures in place since 2020, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday.

According to the ministry, the one-year process of expiry review of the anti-dumping measures will start on Saturday and are scheduled to be concluded before December 20, 2026.

EPDM, also known as ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene rubber, is widely used as feedstock to make auto parts, wires, cables and other industrial products. EPDM rubber improves vehicle durability, weather resistance and performance.

On October 17 this year, two major Chinese EPDM producers representing the domestic industry submitted applications to the Ministry of Commerce regarding the anti-dumping duties on imports from the U.S. South Korea and the EU.

At the domestic industry's request, the ministry decided to initiate review investigations to determine whether the dumping practices and related damage would continue or reoccur following the termination of the duties.

The current anti-dumping duties on the EPDM imports were first imposed on Dec 20, 2020, for a period of five years, with the duties ranging from 214.9 percent to 222 percent for imports from the U.S., from 12.5 percent to 24.5 percent for those from South Korea, and from 14.7 percent to 31.7 percent for those from the EU.

China's anti-dumping measures targeting EPDM imports from the United Kingdom will terminate on Saturday, as the UK is no longer treated as a EU member state, said the ministry.

China to maintain anti-dumping duties on ethylene propylene diene monomer imports from U.S., South Korea, EU

China to maintain anti-dumping duties on ethylene propylene diene monomer imports from U.S., South Korea, EU

Thailand has temporarily closed more than 1,000 schools in border areas following a new round of armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops along their shared border.

The Thai Ministry of Education ordered the suspension of classes on Friday in seven provinces bordering Cambodia, affecting a total of 1,060 schools, to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

Buriram Province is among the areas most affected by the renewed fighting, with more than 100 schools shut down. At local shelters, displaced residents, including children and teenagers, have sought refuge as fighting continues.

One girl said she had stayed in the shelter for 11-12 days already. "I moved here because of the clashes between Thailand and Cambodia," she said, adding that she could hear very loud gunfire at her home.

She said school won't be open until the clashes end, and she misses her classmates very much.

A teenage boy in the shelter expressed the same emotions.

"It's been 13 days since I moved here. I heard gunfires at home and I was so scared that I moved to the shelter. I want to return to school to study and see my friends," he said.

A displaced woman recalled her time in a shelter when border clashes between the two countries broke out earlier this year.

"I stayed in the shelter for a week when the last clashes broke out. This time I don't know how long I need to stay here before I can return home," she said.

Border clashes between the two sides reignited on Dec 7, less than two months after the two sides signed a joint peace declaration, with both sides trading the blame for instigating the attacks.

Thailand closes over 1,000 schools near border amid armed clashes with Cambodia