On 08 September 2025, Thailand notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Safeguards that, on 03 September 2025, it had initiated a safeguard investigation into polypropylene, classifiable in tariff subheadings 3902.10.30.001, 3902.10.30.090, 3902.10.40.001, 3902.10.40.090, 3902.10.90.001, 3902.10.90.090, 3902.30.30.001, 3902.30.30.090, 3902.30.90.001, 3902.30.90.090 and 3902.90.90.000.
According to the notification, all relevant importers, exporters and any other interested parties wishing to present evidence, documents, views or comments pertaining to the investigation shall submit the information above in writing to the Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, by 24 September 2025, except for the exporters and any interested parties situated outside Thailand. The deadline for presentation of evidence, documents, and views is 1 October 2025.
The copy of a non-confidential version of the petition and the updated information concerning the investigation are available on the website https://thaitr.dft.go.th/en/search/SG1008
Interested parties wishing to raise questions regarding the proceedings mentioned above or to request information should contact the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand’s Trade Interests and Remedies Division, Department of Foreign Trade.
Reasons for the initiation of the investigation
The investigation was initiated following a petition made by HMC Polymers Company Limited, Thai Polyethylene Company Limited, and IRPC Public Company Limited, whose collective output constitutes a domestic industry of the like product in Thailand.
The petitioner provided sufficient evidence of a surge in imports of the product concerned, showing that the volume had increased in absolute terms from 228 365 tons in 2020 to 390 583 tons in 2023, or an increase of 71.03%. It continued to significantly rise from 297 871 tons to 351 764 tons, representing an increase of 18.09% when comparing the first three quarters of 2024 and 2025.
Meanwhile, based on a preliminary assessment of the domestic industry’s situation and the rate and amount of the increase in imports of the product under consideration, it was found that the increased imports had caused or threatened to cause serious injury to the domestic industry.
Such serious injury is reflected in the form of decline in domestic market share, sales volume, production, and capacity utilisation, as well as an increase in losses.
What is a safeguard investigation?
A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or are threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.