In a move aimed at safeguarding the EU steel industry, the European Commission has imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel that are coated with tin, originating from China. This decision was made to prevent further damage to the EU's domestic industry, following an investigation that found the subject products were being "dumped" on the European market at unfairly low prices, thereby causing significant harm to local producers.
The Scope and Impact of the Anti-Dumping Duty
The anti-dumping duty applies to specific types of products, tin mill flat-rolled products, which include iron or non-alloy steel that has been plated or coated with tin, sometimes also with additional layers of plastic or varnish. These products are classified under multiple CN codes, which cover various forms of tin-coated steel. The duty rate ranges from 14.1% to 62.6%, depending on the specific product and the level of dumping identified during the investigation.
The full list of affected product categories includes those under CN codes 7210 11 00, 7210 12, 7210 70, 7210 90 40, and others, and these will be subject to additional scrutiny through TARIC codes as well.
Rationale for the Decision
The European Commission's investigation determined that Chinese imports of the affected tin-coated steel products were being sold at prices below fair market value, a practice known as dumping. This was found to have caused material injury to the EU steel industry, undermining the competitiveness of domestic producers who were unable to compete with such low-priced imports.
As a result, the EU has introduced the provisional duties as a temporary protective measure, aiming to shield local manufacturers from the ongoing threat posed by these unfair trade practices. The decision aligns with the EU's efforts to enforce trade fairness and protect its industries from damage caused by foreign producers engaging in practices that harm domestic markets.
Duration and Implementation of the Measure
The provisional AD duty will come into effect immediately upon the publication of the decision, and it will remain in place for a period of six months. During this time, the European Commission will continue to monitor the impact of these measures and assess whether they are sufficient to protect EU producers. Following this period, the Commission may decide to either make the duty permanent or adjust it based on further evaluations.
