Steel News

The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, will consider requests to extend protection measures for a range of steel imports after receiving requests from the steel industry of EU countries.Specifically, on January 12, the EC received a request from the steel industry of 14 countries out of a total of 27 countries in the EU about domestic steel manufacturers being affected by the impact of the imported steel corrugated iron. This request is intended to determine whether an extension of existing safeguard measures is necessary to protect the steel industry of these countries.Excessive steel imports have caused serious damage to the domestic manufacturers in these countries. Therefore, after consideration, the EC finds that the request has sufficient evidence to support the need for continued safeguard measures to prevent or remedy the serious damage being experienced by the European Union's steel industry. These measures apply to the import of hot-rolled steel sheets, cold-rolled steel sheets, electrotechnical sheets, color-coated steel sheets, stainless steel sheets, tubular products of carbon steel and stainless steel, and wire rod. The tax imposition order was established on February 1, 2019 and lasts until June 30, 2021.However, after a lengthy review investigation, the EC extended the safeguard measures for another three years. The EC warns that if these measures are lifted, the steel industry of European Union countries will face a wave of imports, which will have a very negative impact on the economic performance of these countries. this country. In addition, the request includes examples related to modifications made by Union manufacturers. The Commission considers that the information provided, including the sources and supporting evidence, constitutes a sufficient basis for initiating an investigation.With the European Union expanding measures for importing countries, this is also an opportunity and a challenge for the Vietnamese steel industry. Particularly for the EU market, preliminary data shows that Vietnam's steel exports account for 24.1% of the turnover, reaching 2.2 million tons, a sharp increase of 86.2% over the same period. in 2022. Of which, exports to the Italian market increased by 127.7%, reaching 1,355 million tons; Belgium increased by 30.1%; Spain increased by 70.2%. According to the European Steel Association (EUROFER), Vietnam accounted for 8.1% of total finished steel products imported into Europe in the first 8 months of 2023. Meanwhile, finished steel imports from Turkey, China and India decreased sharply (-59%, -11% and -3% respectively), imports from Vietnam increased by 15%. The growth of iron and steel exports shows that steel industry enterprises are increasingly interested in exploiting the EU market and have made good use of the incentives provided by the EVFTA agreement.In addition, the EU's continued extension of protective measures also requires businesses in the Vietnamese steel industry to be mentally prepared to respond to events and to properly and fully comply with the agency's requirements. EC investigation agency throughout the process of the case, closely coordinating with the Trade Remedies Department to receive timely information and support.

The Trade Defense Agency (Ministry of Industry and Trade) has just warned about the risk of Canada investigating and applying trade defense measures to steel imported from Vietnam.According to the Trade Defense Agency, with the policy of monitoring and tightening management of steel imported to protect the domestic market, it is expected that in the coming time, Canada will continue to research and investigate products, type of steel imported from Vietnam. The items targeted by Canada are Vietnam's main export products including concrete reinforcement steel, anti-corrosion steel plates, steel coils and oil pipeline steel. This item is widely used in prestressed concrete wire (PC Wire), umbrella frames, tire bead wire (TBW), piano wire, wire cores for conductors, cables used in elevators and cranes, welding electrode cores and nails.For Canada alone, there have been 18 trade defense cases. Of these, there have been eight trade defense cases with steel imported from Vietnam. Specifically, there are 5 anti-dumping cases, 2 anti-subsidy cases and 1 self-defense case. According to statistical data from Trademap, an updated database system on the trade situation of countries established by the International Trade Center (ITC), Vietnam's export turnover of steel wire products to Canada has increased rapidly in recent years. For example, in 2020, Vietnam exported about 10 million USD of steel wire to Canada. The export turnover of this item doubled to 21 million USD in 2021 and continued to grow strongly, reaching about 40 million USD in 2022.This shows that our country's goods exports to Canada are being actively supported by the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), effective January 2019. Currently, Vietnam is Canada's leading trading partner in ASEAN and Canada's 6th largest trading partner in the group of 40 Indo-Pacific countries.The absolute increase in value is one of the criteria for Canada to conduct an investigation and apply trade defense measures against Vietnamese steel wire. Based on this database, the Trade Defense Agency issued a warning about the risk of Canada investigating and applying trade defense measures to steel imported from Vietnam and recommended that businesses, related associations and businesses review the export of steel wire to the Canadian market (refer to the following HS codes: 7223, 7213, 7227 and 7306).According to experts, this move is a wake-up call to advise businesses to proactively research regulations and procedures to respond in case Canada conducts an investigation into trade defense cases against imported products, such as steel imported from Vietnam. In cases of investigation, the association and related businesses need to have a strategy to participate and handle the case, fully cooperate at the request of the investigation agency and regularly coordinate to receive support from the Trade Defense Agency. Canada is a potential market for Vietnam's exports. If goods are handled and recalled, it will cause great damage to domestic businesses.Above is information about the Trade Defense Agency warning businesses to be careful because steel imported from Vietnam may be investigated by Canada. We will continuously update information about this incident; please follow the website to get the latest information about this incident.

The Mexican government has announced anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled coils imported from Vietnam, with the anti-dumping duties ranging from 11.6% to 79%. These duties have been adjusted to lower levels compared to the initial rates proposed by the Mexican Ministry of Economy in September.Alongside robust growth in export activities, Vietnam's steel products are currently among the most frequently subjected to anti-dumping and countervailing investigations initiated by countries worldwide. Many steel products have faced lawsuits and have been subject to anti-dumping and countervailing duties in major markets such as the United States, the European Union, India, Australia, and more. Most recently, the Mexican government has decided to impose anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled coil products imported from Vietnam.It is known that Vietnam and Mexico are both members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), so Vietnam's cold-rolled coil products enjoy a preferential tariff rate of 0% when exported to Mexico. For the groups of cold-rolled coil products currently under anti-dumping investigation, the total export turnover in 2020 was approximately 50 million USD. Among them, the HS code 7209 for cold-rolled iron and steel products accounted for nearly 80% of the production. This marked the second instance of Mexico initiating a trade remedy investigation against Vietnam, following an earlier anti-dumping investigation on coated steel products in 2021.On July 28, 2022, the Mexican Ministry of Economy initiated an anti-dumping investigation into cold-rolled coils imported from Vietnam based on complaints from the domestic industry. This action was taken in response to the observed unfair international trade practices affecting the country's enterprises. Under the guise of price discrimination, the cold-rolled coil products from Vietnam were deemed to have caused economic harm, leading to a decline in revenue for domestic steel manufacturers.After a period of investigation, the Mexican government has recently implemented anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled coil products imported from Vietnam. Starting from December 29, imported cold-rolled coil products from Vietnam had been subjected to anti-dumping duties imposed by the Mexican government. Specifically, the rates are 11.64% for products imported from Hoa Phat, 25.64% for those from Posco Vietnam and 79.24% for other manufacturers. In comparison, preliminary duties announced in September were 12.77% for Hoa Phat, 25.64% for Posco Vietnam and 81.06% for other manufacturers.The anti-dumping duties are applicable to items with the following 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, 7225.50.91, and 7226.92.06. Currently, steel products imported into Mexico also require a special import license issued by the Mexican government. In the context where the capabilities to respond to anti-dumping investigations by exporting businesses still have many shortcomings, fostering sustainable growth and exports and avoiding protectionist trade measures requires enterprises to adapt appropriately to the new circumstances. Faced with these challenges, Vietnamese businesses need to diversify risks, explore new export markets and enhance the value-added content of the domestic production chain. By doing so, the manufacturing sector can develop sustainably, minimizing the risk of investigations and applying anti-avoidance measures imposed by importing countries. Additionally, businesses should improve their traceability systems and accounting records to support anti-dumping investigations and facilitate the registration of self-certification mechanisms for the origin of raw materials in products subject to anti-avoidance investigations.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just announced receiving information from India's Directorate General of Trade Remedies about issuing a questionnaire for the sunset review of countervailing duties on stainless steel welded pipes from China and Vietnam.The Trade Remedies Authority specifies that a sunset review is conducted just before the expiration of a 5-year period from the date of the official decision on anti-dumping duties or from the date of the review results (if the review covers both anti-dumping and damage).The tax imposition was issued by the Indian Ministry of Finance and became effective for a period of 5 years starting on September 17, 2019. The goods under review are stainless steel welded pipes falling under the HS codes: 7306 40 00, 7306 61 00, 7306 69 00, 7304 11 10, 7304 11 90, 7304 41 00, 7304 51 10, 7304 90 00, 7305 11 29, 7305 90 99, 7306 11 00, 7306 21 00, 7306 29 19, 7306 30 90, 7306 50 00, 7306 90 11, 7306 90 19, 7306 90 90. The HS codes do not limit the scope of the products under review.According to India's regulations, after 5 years of application, upon the request of the domestic manufacturing sector's representative, the Directorate General of Trade Remedies must conduct a final review to assess the necessity of continuing the anti-subsidy measures or to consider the possibility of a recurrence of subsidization practices or damage to the domestic manufacturing sector if the anti-subsidy duty on stainless steel welded pipes from Vietnam is terminated.The initiation of the sunset review investigation on the anti-subsidy tax on stainless steel welded pipes from Vietnam took place on September 30, 2023, according to the Directorate General of Trade Remedies. The official submission of the questionnaire for investigation to manufacturers, exporters and related parties occurred on November 28, 2023, by the Indian Directorate. Consequently, concerned parties have 7 days from the official date of sending the questionnaire to submit opinions on the security measures of the petition within the required file. Within 15 days from the official date of sending the questionnaire, entities need to provide input on the petition, the scope of the investigated goods, and propose product management code numbers. Furthermore, the respondents are expected to submit their responses to the investigation questionnaire and relevant information within 30 days from the official date the Directorate General of Trade Remedies sent out the questionnaire.The period for conducting the review on the anti-subsidy duty on stainless steel welded pipes from Vietnam spans from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. Regarding the content related to damages, the investigation period will additionally cover the three most recent financial years: 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022.The Bureau of Trade Remedies recommends that relevant exporters thoroughly study all related documents and information regarding the case. Full and comprehensive cooperation with the Indian Directorate General of Trade Remedies is advised. Register as an involved party, respond to the questionnaire within the specified timeframe and format and maintain regular contact with the Bureau of Trade Remedies to receive timely information and support.

After a thorough investigation, the US Department of Commerce has concluded that steel pipe products imported from Vietnam did not evade the anti-dumping and countervailing duties that the US applies to similar goods from Taiwan.It's known that on August 4, 2022, the US Department of Commerce issued a notice to initiate an investigation into the circumvention of trade defense duties on certain steel pipe products. Primarily, products falling under HS codes 7306.61 and 7306.30 were imported from Vietnam, with allegations that Vietnam imported the main raw material for producing the steel pipe hot-rolled coil from China, Taiwan, South Korea, and India, then performed simple processing to manufacture the steel pipes, which were subsequently exported to the US. This process was purportedly aimed at evading the corresponding anti-dumping and countervailing duties that the US applies to these countries and territories.This investigation was conducted following suspicions that goods from Vietnam were being sold at lower prices to evade anti-dumping and subsidy tariffs. The investigation focused on determining whether these steel pipe products were manufactured at lower costs due to non-transparent subsidies.After conducting an investigation and gathering information from relevant parties, the United States recently reached a significant conclusion regarding the anti-avoidance duty investigation related to the import of steel pipes from Vietnam. According to the announcement from the US Department of Commerce, following a thorough investigation, it was concluded that steel products imported from Vietnam did not evade the anti-dumping and countervailing duties that the US applies to similar items from Taiwan. This determination was based on Vietnam not using hot-rolled coil steel from Taiwan to manufacture the steel pipes.For other steel pipe products also under investigation for anti-avoidance measures (initiated on July 29, 2022), on July 20, 2023, the US Department of Commerce announced an extension of the deadline for issuing the final determination until November 2, 2023. Recently, on November 9, the US Department of Commerce published the final determination on the case. In this final determination, the US Department of Commerce maintained the same conclusion as the preliminary finding issued in April 2023.However, the Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that the US Department of Commerce continues to allow Vietnamese exporters (except for companies determined by the US Department of Commerce to not fully cooperate during the investigation) to participate in the mechanism of self-certification, confirming that they do not use hot-rolled coil steel originating from China, Taiwan, South Korea or India to be exempt from measures.In fact, the US investigation into anti-avoidance duties isn't just a message about fair trade management, it's also evidence of the tension within international trade relations, particularly amidst escalating trade tensions between nations. This also presents new challenges and opportunities for steel pipe manufacturing enterprises in Vietnam to adjust their business strategies, enhance fair competition advocacy, and comply with international trade regulations.Given these developments, understanding and adhering to international regulations, as well as fostering a fair competitive environment, have become crucial factors for businesses to thrive and adapt in an increasingly volatile international market.