Brussels orders registration of Chinese PVA imports to enable retroactive duties

The European Commission has made imports of certain polyvinyl alcohols (PVA) originating in the People’s Republic of China and manufactured by the Sinopec Group subject to registration, a step that allows anti-dumping duties to be levied retroactively. The measure is contained in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2245 of 8 October 2026, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L series, on 9 October 2026. It was adopted under Article 14(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, the basic anti-dumping Regulation.

Why Brussels is registering the imports

The registration is the direct consequence of litigation over the duties first imposed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1336 of 25 September 2020. On 21 February 2024, the General Court partially annulled that regulation in Case T-762/20 (Sinopec Chongqing SVW Chemical and Others v Commission), holding that the Commission had not established that Sinopec Central-China performed functions similar to those of an agent acting on a commission basis, which had led to a downward adjustment of the export price.

On 3 September 2026, the Court of Justice ruled on the Commission’s appeal in Case C-319/24 P (Commission v Sinopec Chongqing SVW Chemical and others, ECLI:EU:C:2026:687). It set aside the General Court’s findings on the adjustments under Article 2(10)(e), (g) and (k) of the basic Regulation but confirmed them for Article 2(10)(i). The anti-dumping duty rate for the Sinopec Group must therefore be recalculated.

The product and the companies concerned

The product subject to registration is defined as certain polyvinyl alcohols, whether or not containing unhydrolysed acetate groups, in the form of homopolymer resins, originating in China and manufactured by the Sinopec Group. Its technical characteristics are:

• Viscosity of 3 mPa s or more but not more than 61 mPa s, measured in 4 % aqueous solution at 20 °C.
• Degree of hydrolysis of 80,0 mol % or more but not more than 99,9 mol %.
• Both parameters measured according to the ISO 15023-2 method.
• Currently falling under CN code ex 3905 30 00 (TARIC code 3905 30 00 91).

The companies named in the regulation are Sinopec Chongqing SVW Chemical Co. Ltd and Sinopec Great Wall Energy & Chemical Ningxia Co.

Deadlines and customs consequences

Registration expires nine months after the regulation’s entry into force, which falls on the day following its publication. National customs authorities are directed to register the imports and are barred from deciding on any application for repayment or remission of anti-dumping duties on products manufactured by the Sinopec Group before the regulation concluding the re-examination enters into force. The Commission states that it does not consider it appropriate at this stage to provide an estimated amount of future liability.

In parallel, the Commission published a notice of initiation in the C series (C/2026/5252, 9 October 2026) reopening the investigation. Interested parties, in particular the exporting producers concerned and the Union industry, have 10 days from publication to submit written evidence and 15 days to request a hearing.

What it means

For European buyers of PVA — used in adhesives, packaging, textiles and pharmaceuticals — the registration creates a contingent liability on imports from the Sinopec Group until the reopened investigation fixes a final duty rate. The regulation was signed in Brussels on 8 October 2026 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, L series, No 2026/2245, 9 October 2026 (official reference: CELEX:32026R2245).