China initiates review of anti-dumping measures on stainless steel imports

Mysteel Global: China's Ministry of Commerce initiated a review investigation on 22 July regarding the expiry of anti-dumping measures on stainless steel billets and hot-rolled stainless plates/coils imported from the EU, the UK, South Korea, and Indonesia.

Anti-dumping measures were enforced for five years starting from 22 July, 2019, on these stainless products. Ad valorem duties applied as follows: 43% on stainless steel exporters from the EU and UK, 18.1-29% on Japanese mills, 20.2% on Indonesian mills, and 103.1% on most South Korean mills, with the exception of POSCO from Korea, which agreed to a 23.1% duty due to pricing commitments on its stainless exports to China.

As the expiration of the AD measures approaches, three Chinese stainless steel producers, Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., Shandong Taigang Xinhai Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., and Baosteel Desheng Stainless Steel Co., Ltd. jointly filed a request on 15 April to launch a review investigation into the expiry of anti-dumping measures on specific stainless products imported from the EU, the UK, South Korea, and Indonesia. Japanese products were excluded from this inquiry.

The Ministry of Commerce initiated the review investigation on these stainless products on 23 July to assess whether dumping and injury could persist or reoccur if the AD duties were lifted. A final decision is anticipated within 12 months. The review will cover the period from 1 January, 2023, to 31 December, 2023.

The products undergoing review include stainless steel billets and hot-rolled plates/coils, categorised as alloy steels (excluding cold-rolled varieties), with a composition containing no more than 1.2% carbon and a minimum of 10.5% chromium, optionally including other elements.

The stainless steel products are classified under various HS codes in China: 7218.91.00, 7218.99.00, 7219.11.00, 7219.12.10, 7219.12.90, 7219.13.12, 7219.13.19, 7219.13.22, 7219.13.29, 7219.14.12, 7219.14.19, 7219.14.22, 7219.14.29, 7219.21.00, 7219.22.00, 7219.23.00, 7219.24.10, 7219.24.20, 7219.24.30, 7220.11.00, 7220.12.00.

Effective 23 July, 2024, the anti-dumping measures on these stainless products originating from Japan will be terminated.