China’s trade landscape a battleground, as data shows tariff duels to escalate with WTO hamstrung
- As numerous countries mount or prepare investigations into goods from China, data and expert opinion suggest matters will only worsen in the immediate future
The recent escalation in global trade frictions centred around China – including a rise in anti-dumping investigations and retaliatory measures from Beijing – has been quantified by official data, with analysts anticipating even more tariffs thanks to a diminished role for World Trade Organization arbitration.
In the first half of the year, China faced 64 anti-dumping investigations from trading partners, an increase of 166 per cent, year on year, according to China Trade Remedies Information, a platform under the Ministry of Commerce.
Around 40 per cent of the investigated products were chemical raw materials, and other common targets included non-metallic items such as glass wine bottles and goods related to iron and steel industry.
China has also faced 13 anti-subsidy investigations in the first half of the year, nearly triple the number during the same period in 2023. Over half were initiated by the US, primarily against raw materials and products in the chemical industry.
From the other side, Beijing has launched seven anti-dumping investigations in the first six months of 2024, up from zero in the same period last year.
