The European Commission has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports of cold-rolled flat steel originating from India, Japan, Turkey, Vietnam and Taiwan, according to an entry in the Official Journal of the European Union dated 18 September.
The Commission also intends to instruct customs to start registration of the steel under investigation to allow retroactive introduction of definitive duties.
Earlier this month, McCloskey reported that the case into cold-rolled coil from India, Japan Vietnam and Taiwan, China as well as from Turkey was forthcoming.
The probe was started following a complaint lodged by the European steel association Eurofer on behalf of EU steelmakers on 4 August this year. Eurofer provided evidence that the imports in question had increased overall in absolute terms and in terms of market share and that the material sold harmed the EU steel industry.
The complainant also alleged that the raw materials in used in cold-rolled steel exports are subject to export duties and restrictions in the countries of origin, and since they account for more than 17% of total costs this indicated a market distortion. The raw materials in question are iron ore and steel scrap in India, and the same raw materials and coal in Vietnam.
The products subject to the investigation are currently classified under CN codes ex 7209 15 00, 7209 16 90, 7209 17 90, 7209 18 91, ex 7209 18 99, ex 7209 25 00, 7209 26 90, 7209 27 90, 7209 28 90, 7211 23 30, ex 7211 23 80, ex 7211 29 00, 7225 50 80, 7226 92 00 (TARIC codes 7209 15 00 90, 7209 18 99 90, 7209 25 00 90, 7211 23 80 19, 7211 23 80 95, 7211 23 80 99, 7211 29 00 19, 7211 29 00 99).
The EU authorities will make a definitive decision in the case no later than 14 months after the case was opened, and the provisional measures will be imposed no later than within seven months.
Maria Tanatar Associate Director, Steel and Green Steel
