The Ministry of Finance moved Friday to impose anti-dumping duties ranging from 25.79 percent to 31.55 percent on imports of European polyvinyl chloride (PVC) paste resin, a move intended to curb market distortions caused by low-cost imports and protect domestic suppliers. The decision concludes a nearly yearlong trade dispute initiated last August when the Korea Trade Commission accepted a complaint filed by Hanwha Solutions. Investigators confirmed that material imported from Germany, France, Norway and Sweden had been dumped into Korea below fair market value, inflicting material injury on the domestic manufacturing sector. The newly approved definitive tariffs are scheduled to take effect on Aug. 5 and will remain in place for five years following a formal legislative notice period. PVC paste resin is a fine powder raw plastic material that, when blended with plasticizers, forms a workable paste utilized across a broad range of consumer and industrial products, including synthetic leather, wallpaper, flooring and gloves. The definitive duties represent an adjustment downward from pr