Mexico Investigates Anti-Dumping Coated Flat Steel In Vietnam
Steel NewsDate: 25-05-2023 by: Ngan Le
Trade remedies are increasingly being applied by many countries through anti-dumping duties. Specifically, Mexico investigates anti-dumping coated flat steel in Vietnam. Facing that unfavorable situation, Vietnam has always expressed its opinion that Mexico is still a potential export destination in the Americas region thanks to the CPTPP.
1. Total process of Mexico investigate anti-dumping on coated flat steel Vietnam
On August 30, 2021, the Mexican government conducted an anti-dumping investigation based on lawsuits from domestic enterprises against Vietnam's galvanized steel. This incident also marked the first anti-dumping investigation case between the two countries. The parties involved in the lawsuit include domestic Mexican steel manufacturers and some large galvanized steel manufacturers in Vietnam such as Hoa Sen, Nam Kim, Ton Dong A,...
On July 28, 2022, the Mexican Ministry of Industry and Trade published the official gazette on the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation against cold rolled steel originating from Vietnam. It is expected that within 130 days from the date of the announcement, the Mexican Ministry of Economy will make a preliminary conclusion on the case.
According to the lawsuit filed by the Mexican side, the list of products related to the investigation is under HS codes: 7209.16.01, 7209.17.01, 7209.18.01, 7209.26.01, 7209.27.01, 7209.28.01, 7209.90. 99, 7211.23.03, 7211.29.99, 7211.90.99, 7225.50.07, and 7226.92.06.
On September 15, 2022, after a series of preliminary review and appraisals, the Mexican Ministry of Economy had the final conclusion on the case of anti-dumping investigation on cold-rolled steel products of Vietnam. Specifically, the anti-dumping tax rate applied to these items ranges from 7% to 12.34%.
2. The reason for the anti-dumping investigation from Mexico
In the period from 2018 to 2020, steel imports volume from Vietnam have increased significantly, creating a rivalry about production capacity and domestic steel consumption market. The import price of Vietnamese steel is even lower than the domestic steel price, leading to competition from many sides.
Through the investigation process, Mexico concluded that Vietnamese coated steel products possess the same specifications and standards of steel grades as domestic steels in Mexico. Moreover, it has the same physical structure and there is no significant difference in chemical composition between Vietnamese steel and Mexican steel.
Another factor leading to the anti-dumping investigation related to the distribution channel and consumers of Vietnamese steel in the Mexican market. Specifically, Vietnamese exporters as well as domestic steel manufacturers supply products to the same consumer market, including construction contractors, machinery and equipment manufacturers, auto parts manufacturers...
In summary, the Mexican government said that the steel consumption market in Mexico has been unintentionally more complex than ever and there has been rivalry in the trading chain since the participation of Vietnamese enterprises . Many steel producers in Mexico have simultaneously adjusted and reduced selling prices to be able to compete with Vietnamese products.
Strong production capacity and preferential prices brought by Vietnamese exporters have changed the situation of the steel industry here. The government believes that if they do not promptly apply the anti-dumping duty, in the future Vietnam's imports will continue to enter the Mexico market in a much larger quantity than the current one. Consequently, this escalating steel import makes the steel industry in Mexico have serious problems.
3. Vietnam continue looking for chances when face of competitive pressures
Although the Mexican Ministry of Economy has imposed anti-dumping duties on galvanized steel products from Vietnam, it is still not enough to generate an interference of Vietnam steel exporters to the Mexican market.
An important factor that has contributed to improving the import-export relationship between Vietnam and Mexico despite the imposition of anti-dumping duties is the influence of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). More specifically, Vietnam and Mexico are still members of the CPTPP, so Vietnam's coated steel products enjoy a preferential import tax rate of 0%. This proves that Mexico is still the most impressive steel market for Vietnam in the Americas region because of the fact that the final price to end users is still cheaper than the price from domestic manufacturers.
To sum up, the reality that the anti-dumping investigation against Vietnam's coated steel products is still not enough to hinder the attractiveness of the benefits in the bilateral cooperation relationship between both countries. Vietnam's current steel production capacity also indirectly contributes to improving the economy for Mexico. The reason is that because Mexico mainly exports steel directly to the USA, leading to domestic demand not responding in time, the Vietnamese steel export strategy will be an appropriate choice because it not only helps Mexico to balance equals domestic steel demand but also supports the development of steel exports to the USA.
