In a document released on Thursday August 7, the Commission marginally reduced AD duties for all Japanese producers except Tokyo Steel. This was the second reduction since provisional rates first took effect on April 7, 2024.
Meanwhile, AD duties for other countries covered in this investigation, including Egypt and Vietnam, were unchanged from the definitive rates announced on July 16, 2025.
While Egypt’s producers will pay 11.7% duty, Vietnamese exports to the EU are subject to a 12.1% AD duty. India, and Vietnamese exporter Hoa Phat, were exempted from any AD duties at the preliminary stage due to insufficient evidence of dumping.
EU buyers unfazed
“The change [in duties] is unlikely to affect buying interest in Europe,” a trade source told Fastmarkets.
The Commission’s report noted a decline in imports of certain HRFS products into the EU. The monthly average shipments from Japan fell by more than half compared with the investigation period, while Vietnamese exports dropped even further (see table 3). The investigation covered imports from January to December 2023.
Circumvention risks flagged
The Commission warned that any attempts to bypass the duties, such as rerouting shipments through third countries, or flooding the market later, could prompt fresh investigations and expanded penalties.
The anti-dumping probe was initiated on 8 August 2024, following a complaint by European steel industry association Eurofer. The investigation covered imports from January to December 2023.
