Potential duties to impact Chinese exports of stainless steel to Taiwan

SHANGHAI, May 21 (SMM) – Taiwan's Ministry of Finance made a preliminary conclusion that imports of five stainless steel items from China were being dumped in Taiwan, according to a preliminary ruling released at the end of April. 

Imports would face anti-dumping and countervailing duties (CVD) if a final ruling, due in October, concludes that the Chinese steel products have caused material injury to the local steel industry.

The five items include galvanised zinc alloy flat-rolled steel, carbon steel plate, hot- and cold- rolled stainless steel, and cold-rolled carbon. 

SMM expects these duties to most affect Chinese exports of hot-rolled stainless steel to Taiwan as the item accounted for some 89% of the total Chinese stainless steel products entering Taiwan in 2018.  

China’s stainless steel exports to Taiwan accounted for up to 20% of the overall exports in 2018, customs data showed. 

Taiwan began investigations into steel product imports from mainland China in April of 2018, in order to protect local steel manufacturers and to seek exemption from the US Section 232 import tariffs, according to a ministry statement.