EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol against China, Saudi Arabia, and US

Is the long lasting prosperous era of free trade since 1945 coming to an end? Is a spiral of trade protectionism measures building up?

What will come next? A trade war?

Presented as an "anti dumping" measure.

"The European Commission has introduced massive antidumping duties on imports of 1,4-butadiene (BDO), an important intermediate molecule in chemical manufacturing. The provisional duties are 106–114% on all imports originating in China, 52% for all imports from Saudi Arabia and 136–143% on all imports originating in the US. ..."

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol | Business | Chemistry World "Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%"

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2026/270 of 4 February 2026 "imposing provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of 1,4-Butanediol originating in the People’s Republic of China, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America"

1,4-butanediol is a key intermediate and component of in various coatings, polymers and solvents