EU orders registration of imported steel from China

The European Commission has ordered that steel imported to the European market from China is to be subject to registration, meaning that tariffs will be put in place if the product is found to have been dumped in Europe.

The Commission launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of high-fatigue performance (HFP) rebar from China last April, following a complaint from the European steel association Eurofer.

Dumping is the practice of selling a product on export markets at either below its price on home markets or below its cost of production. It is regarded as a form of protectionism and as a predatory tactic in international trade to win market share.

The registration order comes following a request from Eurofer last November. Imports of cold flat-rolled flat steel from China and Russia are also now subject to registration.

The Commission said it could apply provisional measures by the end of January and make definitive duties – which typically last for five year – by July.

Eurofer says the average dumping margin is 20 to 30%.