With COVID-19 hurting the global economy, countries are taking measures to safeguard domestic manufacturers. South Korea, Mexico, the US and the European Union (EU) have launched anti-dumping investigations on steel products from China to impose protectionist measures.
US
The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has commenced its preliminary anti-dumping determination on steel non-refillable cylinders from China. An application to this effect was filed by Worthington Industries on March 27, 2020. Subsequently, members of USITC arrived at a consensus that the products in question enjoyed government subsidies and its dumping into the US was causing substantial damage to the US domestic industry.
European Union
In 2010, the European Commission (EC) had initiated an anti-circumvention investigation on Chinese-origin steel fasters re-exported from Malaysia. Subsequently, in July 2011, the EC had imposed duties on all steel fasters from Malaysia. These duties were later repealed in February 2016 only to be re-imposed in April 2020.
South Korea
South Korea’s trade commission initiated a sunset review investigation on H-section steel form China in April. The dumping investigation period was from Jan to Dec 2019 and the damage investigation period from Jan 2015 – Dec 2019. Earlier, South Korea has levied anti-dumping measures on June 30, 2015, for five years. The duty rate was between 28.23-32.72pc.
Mexico
Mexico’s Ministry of Economic Affairs on April 30 launched anti-dumping sunset review on stainless steel sink exported by China. The review was launched at the behest of companies Cocinas Modulares, EB Técnica Mexicana and Teka Mexicana. The dumping investigation period was from Jan to Dec 2019 and the damage investigation period from Jan 2015 – Dec 2019.
In May 2015, Mexico had levied anti-dumping duty on sinks from Taizhou Luqiao Jixiang Kitchenware at $4.14/kg and that from other Chinese companies at $5.40/kg.
In South America, Chile has also started an anti-dumping investigation on import prices of steel grinding balls from China, after receiving a complaint from a domestic producer, Moly-Cop S.A.