EU steel mills file subsidy case against HRC imports from Turkey

European steel association Eurofer has filed a complaint with the European Commission requesting a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation against hot-rolled coil imports from Turkey, S&P Global Platts learned Friday from Veysel Yayan, general secretary of Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD).

In the complaint, Eurofer claimed that Turkish flat steel producers are benefiting from government incentives like Eximbank programs, tax and investment supports and electricity, natural gas and water cost discounts.

Veysel Yayan told Platts Friday that as Eurofer’s claims are all false and groundless, he anticipates the EC will not open any investigations against Turkish HRC. “Turkish mills are obeying all WTO rules and aren’t receiving any incentives from the government,” he said.

The EC recently launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of certain hot-rolled flat products from Turkey following a request by Eurofer for the action, as Platts has reported. As a reply to this investigation, Turkey informed the World Trade Organization on May 25 that custom duties could be imposed on steel imports from the EU, in response to the EU’s move for additional measures against imports of Turkish steel.

Turkey is planning to impose duties ranging from 9% to 17% on some flat-rolled products, non-alloy bars and angles from the EU region, under HS codes: 7208, 7209, 7210, 7211, 7212, 7214, 7215 and 7216, in an effort to balance trade between the parties.

According to Turkish Steel Exporters’ Union (CIB) data, domestic mills’ steel exports to the EU fell 30% in the first quarter of 2020, while European mills’ steel exports to Turkey doubled in the period.

— Cenk Can