EU extends China, Taiwan stainless CR flats duties

The EU has extended for a further five years anti-dumping duties on imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in China and Taiwan, following the completion of an expiry review of existing measures.

The review was initiated in August 2020 following an application by European steelmakers’ association Eurofer, Kallanish notes.

For China, Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co. and Tianjin TISCO & TPCO Stainless Steel Co. are levied with a 24.4% duty, other Chinese cooperating companies have 24.6% and all other Chinese companies have 25.3%. For Taiwan, Chia Far Industrial Factory Co. is levied with 0% tariff and all other companies with 6.8%.

The products fall under HS codes 7219 31 00, 7219 32 10, 7219 32 90, 7219 33 10, 7219 33 90, 7219 34 10, 7219 34 90, 7219 35 10, 7219 35 90, 7219 90 20, 7219 90 80, 7220 20 21, 7220 20 29, 7220 20 41, 7220 20 49, 7220 20 81, 7220 20 89, 7220 90 20 and 7220 90 80.

In Europe the product is produced by integrated producers transforming stainless steel scrap and alloying elements after melting, hot rolling and cold rolling. In China and, to an increasing extent, Taiwan, producers rely on the use of virgin raw materials, which are transformed into nickel pig iron before being melted, hot rolled and cold rolled, the European Commission observes.

EU consumption of the products fell 14% in the 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 review investigation period (RIP) to 3.197 million tonnes versus 3.73mt in full-year 2018. Imports from China surged 67% on the same basis to 12,546t, while intake from Taiwan surged 78% to 171,656t. Domestic production capacity was 4.57m t/year in RIP, with utilisation at 68%, down from 81% in 2018. Domestic sales volumes were 2.33mt in RIP, with market share of 72.9% versus 72.8% in 2018.

The separate EU anti-dumping probe continues into stainless CR flats originating in India and Indonesia.

Adam Smith Germany