UK suspends dumping duties on some imports of China steel wire

The UK has suspended some antidumping duties on some imports of Chinese steel wire, to avoid double taxation, according to the Department for International Trade.

Duties have been revoked because the products are also covered by the UK’s steel imports safeguarding measures, which were extended July 1 for one to three years, depending on product category, according to the department. However, once the safeguard’s tariff rate quota for these products is filled, the antidumping duties will be charged on any additional products of this type imported, it said.

Under these conditions, the anti-dumping duty on certain pre- and post-stressing wires and wire strands of non-alloy steel (PSC wires and strands) originating in China was revoked. The products concerned are subject to the following codes: 7217 1090 10; 7217 2090 10; 7312 1061 91; 7312 1065 91 and 7312 1069 91.

The duty was imposed on a definitive basis on June 4, 2015, it said.

“The trade remedies measure applied by Taxation notice 2020/03: is suspended and not to be charged if the goods to which the measure applies, on importation into the United Kingdom, are also subject to the charge of a safeguarding measure applied by Taxation notice 2020/06: safeguard measures on certain steel products – application of tariff rate quotas,” the department said in its Suspension notice 2020/03.

“The effect of this suspension is that anti-dumping duty is charged on imports of certain pre- and post-stressing wires and wire strands of non-alloy steel (PSC wires and strands) originating in the People’s Republic of China until such time as the relevant import quota is exceeded; after such time only the safeguard duty is charged or the portion of the anti-dumping duty where it exceeds the safeguard duty (together with the safeguard duty) is charged,” it said.

For material exported by Ossen Innovation Materials Co, Joint Stock Company Ltd, Maashan, and Ossen Jiujiang Steel Wire Cable Co. Ltd, Jiujiang, the original duty amount of 31.1% will be reduced to a duty amount of 6.1% once the safeguard duty (of 25% for out-of-quota goods) has been charged, the notice said.

Exports from Kiswire Qingdao, Ltd, Qingdao, will be subject to a 0% duty in both cases.

For exports from all other companies, an original duty amount of 46.2% will be reduced to a duty amount of 21.2% once safeguard duty has been charged, it said.

The UK produces around 7 million mt/year of crude steel, around 70% of its annual requirement of 10.2 million mt, according to UK Steel, a steel producers’ group. The group has used this figure – showing the UK’s relative dependence on imported steel – to lobby for a strong trade defense policy.

— Diana Kinch