China Lifts Anti-Dumping Tax on Japan's Stainless Steel

The Chinese government has officially removed anti-dumping duties (ADDs) on stainless steel product imports from Japan, effective immediately.

On July 22, China's Ministry of Commerce announced the abolition of ADDs on Japanese stainless steel exports, including steel slabs, hot-rolled stainless steel sheets, and hot-rolled stainless steel coils. These duties, ranging from 18.1% to 29%, were initially imposed in July 2019.

This decision follows a ruling by a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel in June 2023, which found that China's measures against Japan violated WTO regulations. The panel recommended that China "bring the measure into conformity," according to Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry (Meti).

In 2019, Japan's stainless steel exports to China, including the products affected by the ADDs, amounted to approximately ¥70 billion ($448 million), with around ¥9 billion subject to the duties, Meti reported. Updated export data were not immediately available, according to a Meti official speaking to Metalnomist.

In 2023, Japan exported a total of 699,023 metric tonnes of stainless steel products globally, marking a 12.6% decline from the previous year, as reported by the Japan Stainless Steel Association. A detailed breakdown by country was not provided.