The Trade Commission of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has recommended that the government maintain anti-dumping measures on Chinese H-beams for an additional five years. The commission also determined that a provisional anti-dumping duty of up to 27.96% should be imposed on Chinese rebar, which is used in the manufacturing of parts for automobiles and ships.
During its 477th meeting on September 17, the Trade Commission reviewed and voted on the final determination of the anti-dumping investigation into Chinese H-beams and the preliminary determination regarding rebar.
H-beams are structural steel products with an H-shaped cross-section, utilized in the construction of buildings, factories, ships, and civil engineering projects. This investigation marks the second sunset review to assess whether to terminate existing anti-dumping measures. Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel requested the review in September 2022, and the investigation commenced in December of the same year.
The Trade Commission concluded that ending the current measures could lead to a recurrence of dumping and harm to the domestic industry. Consequently, it plans to recommend to the Minister of Economy and Finance that price commitments be implemented for two companies, Laiwu Steel and Rizhao Steel, while extending anti-dumping duties of 28.23% to 32.72% on other suppliers for the next five years.
Regarding Chinese rebar, the commission made a preliminary determination that the domestic industry has suffered substantial harm due to dumping. Rebar is used in the manufacturing of parts for automobiles, construction machinery, shipbuilding, bearings, and industrial machinery. SeAH Besteel and SeAH Changwon Special Steel applied for the investigation in February 2023, and the investigation began in May. To prevent further harm during the investigation period, the commission plans to recommend a provisional anti-dumping duty of 25.08% to 27.96% to the Minister of Economy and Finance.
In a separate case involving patent infringement related to fire monitoring systems for secondary batteries, the commission ruled that the actions did not constitute unfair trade practices. It determined that the items in question did not fall within the scope of the applicant's patent rights, thus not qualifying as patent infringement for export or manufacturing purposes.
During the meeting, the commission also reported the initiation of anti-dumping investigations into polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films from Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as ethyl acetate and fully drawn yarn (FDY) from China. PET films are used in packaging and electronic and optical materials, while ethyl acetate serves as a solvent for paints and printing inks. FDY is utilized in textiles and fabrics for both clothing and non-clothing applications.
The Trade Commission plans to finalize its determinations on these cases in the first half of next year after conducting written surveys, public hearings, on-site investigations, and gathering opinions from domestic and international stakeholders.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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