Posted on 20 Sep 2023
Thailand's Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) announced last Saturday on 16 September that it will conduct an anti-circumvention investigation into flat hot-rolled in coils and not in coils from China. The investigation will take effect from the date of the announcement, and the main targets have been named.
Products involved are with HS codes of 7225.3090.022, 7225.3090.023, 7225.3090.024, 7225.3090.042, 7225.3090.090, 7225.4090.034, 7225.4090.090, 7226.9110.022, 7226.9110.023, 7226.9110.024, 7226.9110.042, 7226.9110.090, 7226.9190.022, 7226.9190.023, 7226.9190.024, 7226.9190.042, and 7226.9190.090.
The purpose of this investigation is to see whether the involved products imported from China circumvent current anti-dumping duties by changing the product composition with alloys, Kallanish learns from a public document released by DFT.
The main targets of this investigation are 17 Chinese manufacturers, including Angang Steel Limited, Angang Steel Bayuquan subsidiary, Baosteel, Baosteel Zhanjiang Steel, Benxi Steel Plate (Bengang Plate), HBIS, Hebei Yanshan Steel (Yangang), Shagang, Minmetals Yinkou Medium Plate, Nanjing Iron & Steel, Nanyang Hanye Special Steel, Rizhao Steel, Rizhao Yingkou Plate, Shanghai Meishan Iron & Steel, Tangshan Yanshan Steel, Xinyu Steel and Zhongpu (Handan) Steel.
Earlier in August this year, DFT reported that the country is preparing to investigate imported steel products for circumventing anti-dumping duties (AD) or countervailing duties (CVD). According to the DFT's research, steel importers in Thailand circumvent the import duties such as AD and CVD by simply processing imported products to slightly change the registered product or by re-exporting them through third country which does not face duties (see Kallanish passim). In early-September, DFT said it has received a joint request from four domestic steelmakers, Sahaviriya Steel Industries PLC, GJ Steel, G Steel and Sahaviriya Plate Mill PLC, to conduct the investigation.
Thailand currently imposes a 30.91% tariff on Chinese HRC, which took effect since 2011 and has been extended to July 2028 after the latest update in July 2023 (see Kallanish passim).
Source:Kallanish
