The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday it had filed an anti-dumping case against epichlorohydrin (ECH) imports from Russia, Japan, the United States and South Korea.

The anti-dumping investigation, effective Tuesday, was conducted at the request of Sinopec Qilu Co. Ltd. and Tianjin Bohai Chemicals Co. Ltd., which filed complaints last month, the ministry said.

The ministry will start investigating ECH imports from the four countries and their impact on China's domestic industry during the period from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004.

Chinese ECH manufacturers and importers should respond to the investigation within 20 days after the announcement, the ministry said.

The investigation would last for one year, but could be extended for another six months in special cases, the ministry said without elaborating.

ECH is a colorless liquid mainly used to produce a range of glycerol and glycidol derivatives, including plasticizers, stabilizers, solvents, dyestuff intermediates and pharmaceuticals.

In a separate statement published on its official Web site Tuesday, the ministry said it would carry out sunset review investigation of anti-dumping measures against bioriented stretching polyester (BOPET) film imports from South Korea.

The investigation was scheduled to be finished before Dec. 28, 2005, the ministry said.

BOPET film is widely used in producing packaging materials.

(Shenzhen Daily December 29, 2004)