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Chinese HRC steel will be subject to an import tax of nearly 30%. The decision will take effect 15 days after its issuance (April 2-4, 2026), i.e., from April 17, 2026. (Image: TL)

According to Decision 612/QD-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the temporary tax measure applies to HRC steel with a width greater than 1,880 mm and less than or equal to 2,300 mm, under 24 HS codes from 7208.25.00 to 7226.91.90.

Some products are exempt from this measure, including steel with a carbon content above 0.30% and hot-rolled steel plates with a thickness of 10 mm or more.

According to the preliminary investigation conclusion, authorities determined that there was circumvention of trade safeguard measures through insignificant changes in product characteristics to avoid the scope of the previously imposed anti-dumping duties. The volume of imported steel under this category has increased sharply, undermining the effectiveness of trade defense measures and causing damage to the domestic industry.

In terms of enforcement, the customs authority will determine the taxable goods through the examination of origin documents. Documents such as certificates of origin (C/O) or self-certification of origin under free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and RCEP will be used as the basis for determining the origin of goods.

If a business cannot provide valid documents or cannot prove that the goods originate from outside China, an anti-circumvention duty of 27.83% will be applied. Conversely, if the goods are determined to originate from another country, the shipment will not be subject to the duty.

After applying the provisional duty, the investigating authority will continue to review, organize public consultations, and issue a final conclusion on the case.

The case was initiated after Hoa Phat Group and Formosa Ha Tinh submitted documents requesting an investigation into alleged circumvention of anti-dumping duties. In the first six months of 2025, Vietnam imported nearly 650,000 tons of wide-width HRC steel from China, an increase of approximately 15 times compared to the same period the previous year, creating significant competitive pressure on domestically produced products.

Source: Saigon Economic Magazine