Japan is extremely dissatisfied, claiming to have lodged a strong protest against us! On September 8, according to a report by the Sankei News of Japan, Economic Minister Retsu Akira stated that in response to China's announcement confirming dumping practices by certain Japanese semiconductor materials and imposing high-profit levies on importers, Japan will take appropriate measures to prevent any undue impact. Retsu Akira claimed that China’s export restrictions targeting Japan violate international norms prohibiting export controls directed specifically at individual countries, and we hereby express our strong protest.

He stated that China’s export restrictions are entirely targeted at our country, and we strongly protest this action and have demanded that they revoke these restrictions. Clearly, from Japan’s reaction, it is evident that, in Japan’s view, our actions are “deliberate” targeting of Japan, and they assume we are “intentionally” imposing export controls on Japan, thereby “suppressing” Japanese enterprises, and insist that we must withdraw our measures.

However, we would like to ask: does Japan indeed have facts of dumping in its relevant chemical products? Setting aside the facts, simply asserting that we are targeting Japan alone—this move by Japan appears deliberately to politicize economic and trade issues. The facts are clear: between 2022 and 2024, Japan’s exports of dichlorosilane to China saw a cumulative price drop of 30.96% over two years, with prices continuously declining. Domestic Chinese enterprises operating under pressure from low-priced imported goods are facing severe operational difficulties, even experiencing cost inversion.

Instead of verifying the actual situation, Japan immediately brands our actions as “targeted”—is this credible? In fact, in recent years, Japan has launched multiple anti-dumping investigations against Chinese products, including hot-dip galvanized steel strips, cold-rolled stainless steel coils, and other categories. Should only Japan be allowed to use anti-dumping investigation tools, while we are forbidden from employing legitimate means to protect the interests of our own enterprises? Clearly, Japan’s protest will not be accepted by us, and it serves no constructive purpose in resolving the issue.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875747640500235/

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