Chinese sorghum importers beg for relief as levy on US imports rises 180%
News of the levy, which is high enough to bring trade to a halt, has prompted some vessels carrying US sorghum to change course
Beijing — Some Chinese sorghum importers have asked Beijing to waive the hefty antidumping deposit imposed last week on US imports already at sea, as firms rushed to sell Chinese-bound cargoes that were on the water at big discounts. China’s commerce ministry slapped a 178.6% deposit starting from April 18 on imports of sorghum from the US in a trade row between the world’s two biggest economies. Sorghum is a grain used in animal feed and to make liquor. One source said his company was asking Beijing to impose the new tariffs only on cargoes loaded at US ports after April 18, in a bid to protect almost a dozen vessels carrying US sorghum that have already started sailing. A second source at a private importer based in eastern China said a group of companies, including at least one state-owned firm, met commerce ministry officials to discuss concessions for the tariff but did not disclose details of the meeting. The sources declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issu...
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