Japan has launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports from South Korea of potassium carbonate, a chemical compound used in making glasses for liquid crystal display.

The Japanese finance and trade ministries said Monday that it will decide whether to impose anti-dumping duties on potassium carbonate imports from Korea after investigation, which is expected to take about a year to complete.

The probe comes after a Japanese industry group lodged a petition, alleging that low-priced potassium carbonate imports from Korea had forced domestic Japanese producers lower their sale prices or prevented price increase. The group argued potassium carbonate imports to Japan from Korea expanded to 5,293 tons in 2019 from 4,918 tons in 2017.

Korean commercial attaché to Japan Lee Yong-hwan vowed active cooperation with Korean potassium carbonate exporters for counteraction.

The same Japanese industry group previously had demanded imposing anti-dumping tariffs against potassium hydroxide imports from Korea.

Tokyo currently levies anti-dumping tariffs on potassium hydroxide and steel tube imports from Korea.

Anti-dumping duties are generally levied for three years once a decision is made, and can be expanded for up to two years.

By Jung Wook and Cho Jeehyun

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