Brussels raises import tariffs on China steel
Steel factory - Photo by Shymaa Rabea
(BRUSSELS) - The EU Commission imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of hot-rolled flat steel products from China Thursday, fixing at higher duties than provisional measures in place since October.
The Commission says its investigation has confirmed that these products had been sold in Europe at heavily dumped prices. The new, higher antidumping duties range between 18.1% and 35.9%.
The measures will shield the EU steel producers from the damaging effects of Chinese dumping during an initial period of five years, says the Commission.
Hot-rolled flat steel is commonly used for the production of steel tubes to be used in construction, and for shipbuilding, gas containers, cars, pressure vessels, and energy pipelines.
The EU currently has an unprecedented number of trade defence measures in place targeting unfair exports of steel products from third countries, with a total of 41 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, 18 of which on products originating from China.
The Commission has been using the available toolbox of trade defence instruments to the full extent possible, while seeking the approval of Member States and the European Parliament for its proposals to make these instruments better suited to the current reality of international trade.
In addition to that, the EU is looking to tackle the root causes of overcapacity in the global steel industry through active involvement in a 'Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity' launched in December last year, and through bilateral dialogue with the relevant partners.
Further information is available in the EU official journal.