The Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday resumed its anti-dumping tax on dichloromethane imported from the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Germany and the Republic of Korea.

The measure would be in place for five years, said a ministry statement.

The ministry made the decision after it finished an investigation begun on August 15 last year into possible damages the imports could incur for domestic industries.

The investigation showed that imports from the named countries may hurt domestic enterprises, said the statement.

On August 16, 2001, the ministry began levying the five-year anti-dumping tax on dichloromethane, commonly used as an industrial solvent.

According to Chinese anti-dumping regulations, domestic industries can ask the Ministry of Commerce to re-investigate dichloromethane imports before the expiration date.

A statement released by the ministry in June 2002 said China levied a four to 66 percent anti-dumping tax on dichloromethane exporters including BP Chemical Trading Company, Vulcan Materials Company, and Samsung Fine Chemicals Co Ltd.