South Korea’s finance ministry has decided to impose anti-dumping tariffs on imports of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) paste resin from four European nations.
The measures are scheduled to take effect next month, following a formal investigation into pricing practices by the exporting producers.
The decision marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between Seoul and European chemical manufacturers.
By targeting specific imports, the Korean government aims to protect domestic producers from what it describes as unfairly priced competition.
The tariffs will apply to shipments from four unnamed EU countries, though industry sources suggest the measures will impact major European chemical exporters.
This development comes amid a broader trend of protectionist measures in the global chemical sector.