EU investigates China steel HDG duty circumvention
The European Commission today initiated a formal investigation into circumvention of anti-dumping duties on Chinese hot-dip galvanised (HDG) coil.
The commission said the duties, imposed in February last year, have been circumvented by the addition of thin oil coatings, or increasing content of carbon or other elements, or amending the coating. The existing duty ranges from 17.2pc to 27.9pc, depending on the mill.
Chinese imports of HDG registered 1.18mn t over the first nine months of this year, up by 16pc from 1mn t over the same period of 2018 — this is despite the imposition of the definitive steel safeguard, which has supposedly reduced the availability of Chinese material subject to anti-dumping measures, categorised under the 4A code.
Availability of 4B material, destined for the automotive sector and not subject to duties, has been protected by the commission. But China obliterated its 527,164t quota for July 2019-June 2020 on the day it opened. Import statistics show 750,676t of Chinese HDG cleared customs in July, up by 583pc from the same period last year, as traders looked to pass customs before the quota level was breached.
The commission's review of its safeguard, implemented on 1 October, actually saw some Taric codes listed under 4B moved into the 4A portion of the safeguard to ensure availability for automakers. But this opened a theoretical loophole whereby Chinese material that was previously dumped could clear customs under the other countries portion of the 4A safeguard. Nevertheless, over 500,000t of the October-December other countries quota remains available, suggesting that nobody has exploited this to any real degree.
By Colin Richardson
source: Argus Media
Top News
Five last month
Two last year
US Energy Dept finalizes $2.26bn loan for Lithium Americas’ Nevada mine
Abandoned copper mines embraced as fast track to boost output
Glencore posts lower metals output for first nine months, reiterates outlook
Mercuria eyes equity in African assets, new metals boss says
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Traders see gold as a surefire bet as coin-toss election looms
Gold price surge adds glitter to tarnished miners
Environmentalists sue over US approval of ioneer’s Nevada lithium mine
Gold price shows little reaction to jobs data
St Barbara raises $73m to fast-track Simberi sulphide production
Copper price sees biggest drop since May as Trump’s win boosts dollar
Sibanye agrees wage deal for its gold operations, union says
China’s industry ministry plans to step up lithium, cobalt, nickel exploration
Liberty Gold advances Black Pine project permitting
China zinc smelter group sets processing fees for Q1 2025
Brazil prepares to remove illegal Amazon gold miners from Munduruku land
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Ecuador to reopen mining register for first time in over six years
St Barbara raises $73m to fast-track Simberi sulphide production
Copper price sees biggest drop since May as Trump’s win boosts dollar
Sibanye agrees wage deal for its gold operations, union says
China’s industry ministry plans to step up lithium, cobalt, nickel exploration
China zinc smelter group sets processing fees for Q1 2025
Brazil prepares to remove illegal Amazon gold miners from Munduruku land
Anglo American sells Australian coal JV stake for $1.1 billion
Solidcore to buy 55% stake in Kazakhstan’s Syrymbet tin deposit for $82.5m
Ecuador to reopen mining register for first time in over six years