A proposed new rule, issued by the US Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, aimed at improving the exclusion process for Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, appears to be a “mixed bag” for the domestic industry, according to American Iron and Steel Institute CEO Kevin Dempsey. The proposed rule issued Aug. 28 includes four primary changes “intended to create a more transparent, fair and efficient process,” the BIS said. One of the biggest unknowns with the proposed change is what products would fall under a newly established list of “general denied exclusions,” or GDEs.
US Commerce sets zero tariffs for certain pipe, bar
Large diameter welded pipe from Turkey was not sold in the US at less than normal value during a period of review, the US Commerce Department said in a final determination. As a result, final dumping margins were set at zero for mandatory respondent HDM Celik Boru Sanayi Ve Ticaret and companies not examined for individual review.
Similarly, in a final determination, US Commerce said producers and exporters of stainless steel bar from India did not make sales to the US at less than normal value during a period of review. Therefore, it set a final dumping margin of zero for Laxcon Steels and affiliates, Bhansali Bright Bars, Bhansali Inc., and Venus Wire Industries and affiliates.
US slap subsidy rates on tubes, plates
However, in a separate review, US Commerce found countervailable subsidies were provided to producers and exporters of certain cold-drawn mechanical tubing from India. As a result, final subsidy rates were set at 3.39% for Goodluck India, 3.97% for Tube Investments of India, and 3.74% for Lal bab Seamless Tubes and Metamorphosis Engitech India.
Also, US Commerce found countervailable subsidies were provided to certain South Korean producers and exporters of cut-to-length steel plate during a period of review. Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel were assigned a final subsidy rate of 1.08%. The administrative review, which spanned the 2021 calendar year, was rescinded for BDP International and Sung Jin Steel as they were found to have no reviewable shipments, sales or entries of subject merchandise during the period of review.
Latin American steelmakers seek CBAM extension
Latin American steelmakers pressed for deadlines for adhesion to the European Commission’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to be extended, representatives of regional steelmaking associations said in a joint public statement Sept. 19. The associations’ members will find it difficult to comply with the timetabled requirements for continued export product access to the EU, a major steel trade partner, according to the statement issued by Latin American Steel Association, or Alacero.
UK starts review of steel safeguards
The UK government started an extension review of a safeguard measure on 15 categories of steel products, the UK Trade Remedies Authority said Sept. 5. The measure is due to expire on June 30, 2024. The review will recommend to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade whether the safeguard measure should be extended by up to two further years to 2026. The products include: hot-rolled coils and cold-rolled coils (non-alloy and other alloy), metallic and organic coated sheet, tin mill products, alloy and non-alloy merchant bars and light sections, rebar angles, shapes, sections of iron or non-alloy steel, railway material, gas pipe, hollow section and welded tube.
UK to maintain tariffs on Chinese flat steel
Also, the UK government accepted the Trade Remedies Authority’s final recommendation to keep anti-dumping and countervailing measures on hot-rolled flat and coil steel from China until April 7, 2027, and to keep the anti-dumping measure on imports from Brazil, Iran and Russia until Oct. 7, 2027. The UK’s export ban on all imports from Russia due to the war in Ukraine also was extended to hot-rolled flat and coil steel.
Turkish steelmakers want probe into Chinese HRC
Turkish steel producers submitted a petition to the country’s Trade Ministry for an anti-dumping investigation on imports of hot-rolled coil from Chinese, Indian and Russian suppliers, Ugur Dalbeler, CEO of major Turkish steelmaker Colakoglu and vice president of Turkish Steel Exporters’ Union, told S&P Global Commodity Insights Sept. 12. If the ministry decides to open an investigation, it could impose additional duties on imports of HRC from these countries, sources said.
The petition followed a statement from the Turkish Steel Producers’ Association (TCUD) to S&P Global Sept. 1. “China, which became Turkey’s second steel supplier after Russia, is trying to transfer the oversupply generated from the shrinkage seen in its construction sector to Turkey,” TCUD said, adding that it was crucial to prohibit imports of low-priced Chinese steel to narrow the current deficit of the Turkish steel industry,” the association said. Turkey’s imports of HRC from China rose more than fivefold on the year to 1.01 million mt in H1 2023. The country also became Turkey’s third top CRC supplier at 58,000 mt in the first half, up 65% on the year, Turkish Statistical Institute data seen by S&P Global showed.
Spain delays takeover of Cepsa
Spain’s government put on hold a takeover by creditors of Spanish steelmaker Cepsa, which was approved by a court, a spokesman for the Industry Ministry said Sept. 6. The takeover operation fell under recently approved Spanish Law 571/2023, which requires any takeover by foreign capital to be authorized by the country’s cabinet, the spokesman said. The rule, which was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and is provisionally in place until December 2024 for potential European buyers, would likely apply to two of the creditors, one from Germany and one from Ireland, Spanish financial daily Expansion said in a report Sept. 6.
Thailand investigates circumvention of tariffs
Thailand began investigating alleged evasion of antidumping duties on flat steel products from China, the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) said Sept. 16. The probe, which resulted from a petition made by Sahaviriya Steel Industries, G J Steel, G Steel and Sahaviriya Plate Mill on behalf of local participants, involves 17 Chinese steel companies, the DFT said. Also, the DFT probe followed a decision by Thailand to prolong antidumping duties on the import of flat hot-rolled steel in coil and non-coil form from China and Malaysia for another five years, from July 11, 2023, to July 10, 2028.
Malaysia reviews galvanized products from China, Vietnam
Malaysia began a review of antidumping duties on galvanized iron imports from China and Vietnam that are due to expire on March 7, 2024, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said Sept. 6, and is thus seeking views from interested parties. The tariffs, which range between nil and 16.13%, took effect March 8, 2019, and were scheduled to expire after five years. The views should be submitted by Sept. 30, 2023. The tariffs cover “flat rolled product of iron alloy or non-alloy steel, plated or coated with zinc, using hot dip process (galvanized iron coils/sheets or galvanized steel coils/sheets).”
Author: Clement Choo
