A trade investigation order from the US Department of Commerce is now transmitting from the chemical raw material end to the textile light manufacturing chain. On May 28, 2026, the US officially initiated anti-dumping and countervailing investigations on Chinese rubber accelerator CBS (N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide). The initial shock appears to hit the rubber additive industry, but the real pressure falls on textile-related export sectors such as rubber shoes and textile-rubber composite products that rely on this raw material.
Background
CBS is a highly efficient delayed-action vulcanization accelerator widely used in automotive tires, industrial hoses, cable sheaths, and also core in textile fields like rubber shoes, safety boots, textile-reinforced hoses, and rubber-coated fabrics. China is the world's largest producer and exporter of CBS, with significant capacity and technology advantages, while US domestic capacity is limited and heavily dependent on Chinese imports.
The US preliminary review alleges dumping margins of 285.94% to 338.51% for Chinese CBS, and also finds "more than de minimis" subsidy practices. Although the final rate is not yet determined, this data far exceeds the industry's tolerance, meaning if final duties are imposed, Chinese CBS exports to the US could face a cliff-like decline or even complete exit from the US market.
According to the investigation timeline, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) will make a preliminary injury vote around June 21, 2026, and the Department of Commerce is expected to release the anti-dumping preliminary ruling in October 2026. The entire process is tight, leaving limited time for companies to respond.
Industry Impact
From the supply chain perspective, upstream CBS producers face order declines and idle capacity; midstream rubber product companies encounter rising costs and unstable supply; downstream textile-related rubber shoe manufacturers and textile-rubber composite exporters directly suffer raw material shortages and cost surges.
Chinese customs data shows that in 2025, China exported billions of dollars worth of rubber shoes to the US, many containing CBS-based rubber components. If raw material supply is interrupted or prices skyrocket, profit margins for related companies could be squeezed to or below breakeven.
More concerning is that US procurement standards for textile and footwear products often require specific vulcanization processes, making it difficult to find alternative supply channels in the short term. Although Southeast Asia has some rubber additive capacity, quality and scale lag behind China, with high switching costs. Even if companies try to shift sourcing, it will take at least 12 to 18 months for certification and trial production.
This dual investigation is another US trade restriction on basic Chinese chemicals, highlighting the destructive impact of trade protectionism on supply chain stability. For textile and footwear companies with the US as a primary market, this is not just a cost issue but a survival challenge.