Antidumping duties show prudence to trade frictions

After an 11-month investigation conducted in accordance with China's antidumping regulations and relevant World Trade Organization rules, the Ministry of Commerce announced on Monday that it would impose antidumping duties of up to 54.3 percent, in the form of security deposits, on pecan imports from the United States and Mexico. The decision came after the probe found that dumped imports from the two countries increased their share in China's domestic market from 29.94 percent to 39.62 percent during the probe period, causing material injury to the domestic pecan industry.

China's pecan industry has developed rapidly in recent years, with domestic output reaching 6,500 metric tons in 2025, up 86 percent year-on-year. Despite this, the industry faces increasingly grave challenges from the unfair competition from US and Mexican pecans. Under such circumstances, taking trade remedy measures in accordance with the law is a legitimate step to safeguard fair competition and protect the lawful interests of domestic producers.

As no US company participated in the investigation, the rates applied to US companies were the highest, 54.3 percent, based on available facts. Mexican companies that cooperated received rates ranging from 17.8 percent to 51.6 percent. This shows that China's trade remedy measures are based on specific circumstances rather than indiscriminate retaliation.

Mexico has introduced a series of restrictive measures affecting Chinese products since early last year, including tariff increases of up to 50 percent on about 1,400 tariff lines and anti-dumping measures involving products such as children's bicycles, steel and plastics. These measures have affected the market access and competitiveness of Chinese enterprises.

China launched a trade and investment barrier investigation in September 2025 and determined in March 2026 that certain Mexican measures constituted trade barriers. However, China did not immediately impose reciprocal tariffs. In February 2026, Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang met his Mexican counterpart in Beijing, marking the first face-to-face engagement between the two sides since Mexico raised tariffs against China.

China's restraint reflects a broader strategic consideration.

Earlier in 2024, Chinese and Mexican leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and upholding multilateralism. China and Mexico are both developing countries and important members of the Global South. Their economies are highly complementary, and there is broad potential for cooperation in trade, investment, manufacturing and other areas. The economic and trade relations between China and Mexico should be viewed from a broader and longer-term perspective.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce's move regarding Mexican pecans is a routine trade remedy measure based on facts and rules. It highlights China's consistent approach to handling trade frictions, which is to firmly safeguard the country's legitimate rights and interests while exercising restraint and keeping the door to dialogue open.

At a time when protectionist pressures are increasing and the global economy faces greater uncertainty, major trading partners should work together to uphold the multilateral trading system, keep markets open and properly manage differences.

Only by choosing cooperation over confrontation and dialogue over escalation can countries strengthen the resilience of global supply chains, promote stable economic growth and create a more predictable environment for international trade.

China will continue to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law, while remaining committed to expanding high-standard opening-up, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and contributing to the stable and healthy development of the global economy.