EC Not to Impose Anti-Dumping Duties on Iran

The European Commission has decided not to impose preliminary anti-dumping duties on hot rolled coil imported from five countries, including Iran, and sent official papers on the issue to the parties involved on April 4, according to market participants.

The commission was expected to set preliminary anti-dumping duties into HRC from Brazil, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia on April 7, having initiated an anti-dumping investigation into the import of material from the countries on July 7, 2016, and implementing a ruling to register HRC imports from Russia and Brazil on arrival in the EU on January 6, 2017.

However, the EC has decided not to announce any provisional duties, although it might still impose definitive duties within the next six months, Metal Bulletin reported.

“[The] preliminary anti-dumping decision was scheduled to be announced in April, but the European Commission [has] made a decision not to apply any provisional duties and, as a consequence, no import registration [or] retroactive duty should be applied,” an Italian trader said.

“Final anti-dumping decision is due in September. In practical terms, the free zone to import without risk is from now until July, while August is very risky as the European Commission may not wait until the last minute to publish [its] decision,” he added.

In addition, Serbia is expected to be excluded from the investigation, according to market participants.

“Serbia is likely to face no [definitive] anti-dumping duties and all five countries will not see preliminary duties,” a representative of the Polish steel industry said.

The trade case into HRC from the five countries and the one against Chinese material covered about 80-90% of total HRC imports in the EU.

As a result, a consortium of steel companies from Italy and elsewhere across Europe was established in mid-July of 2016 to maintain competition in the EU steel market.

This consortium was established by Italian steel trade association Assofermet and is represented by Brussels-based law firm Van Bael & Bellis.

Since the start of the anti-dumping probe last July, Metal Bulletin’s weekly domestic price assessment for HRC in Northern Europe has gained about 32.56%, reaching €560-580 ($604-626) per ton ex-works on March 22. The assessment in Southern Europe also increased by 30.49% over the same period to €530-540 ($572-582) per ton.

The European Commission is expected to set definitive anti-dumping duties for Chinese HRC on April 7. Preliminary duties were set at 13.20-22.60% on October 7, 2016.

 Higher Definitive Duties on Chinese HRC

The European Commission has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties at the rate of 18.10-35.90% on hot rolled coil imported from China, it said on April 6.

The definitive duty was determined at 18.10% for material produced by Hesteel Group and Handan Iron & Steel Group Han-Bao; at 28.10% for Bengang Steel Plates; and at 35.90% for Zhangjiagang GTA Plate and Zhangjiagang Hongchang Plate.

The duty for all other cooperating companies was set at 27.30%, and for all other companies at 35.90%.

The European Commission imposed provisional duties on such material originating from China at a lower range of 13.20-22.60% on October 7, 2016.

The commission initiated an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese HRC on February 13 last year, following a complaint lodged by European steel association Eurofer on January 4.

A definitive anti-dumping duty is imposed on imports of flat-rolled products made of iron, non-alloy steel or other alloy steel; whether or not in coils, including cut-to-length and narrow strip products; not further worked other than hot rolled; not clad, plated or coated; and originating in China.