Japan’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on October 16 that they have opened a joint anti-dumping investigation into pigments and preparations based on rutile titanium dioxide originating in China, after receiving an application on August 7 from the Japan Titanium Dioxide Industry Association and finding sufficient evidence to justify an investigation. The product is a fine white powder used in automotive coatings, premium architectural coatings, printing inks and the coloring of plastics and resins. The ministries said the investigation should in principle conclude within one year, and that the government will then decide whether the imports were sold at dumped prices, whether they caused material injury to the domestic industry, and whether to impose an anti-dumping duty.
Japan opens anti-dumping probe into Chinese titanium dioxide pigments
Japan's finance and industry ministries have opened a joint anti-dumping investigation into pigments and preparations based on rutile titanium dioxide originating in China.
Why it matters: The probe, which should conclude within a year, could end in a new duty on a coating and ink input and adds a trade remedy case to Japan China trade friction.
Data as of Friday, October 16, 2026, 00:42 ET. Single sourced to the joint Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry notice, opened and read in full. The notice is the primary source for the initiation itself; no duty has been decided, hence grade C for a developing item.
Sources
- Initiation of the Investigation of the Anti-Dumping Duty on Pigments and preparations based on rutile titanium dioxide originating in the People's Republic of China · Japan Ministry of Finance · 2026-10-16