China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) has issued a statement in response to the decision on June 25 by the United States International Trade Commission (US ITC) to impose an antidumping (AD) rate of 209.97 percent and a countervailing duty (CVD) rate of 39.05 percent on imports of anti-corrosion steel plate from China.
The MOC stated that cold rolled steel plate and hot dip galvanized steel plate are two of the main steel products that Chinese companies export to the US, accounting for more than half of the steel the US imports from China. Following the imposition of high antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese cold rolled steel plate on June 22, the US has also decided to take measures against anti-corrosion steel plate from China. The MOC said the high duty rates in question will force Chinese products to leave the US market, thereby seriously affecting Chinese steelmakers’ interests. The MOC stated that the US measures are against the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and so China will take every possible measure to fight for fair treatment for Chinese companies, including litigation at the WTO.
The MOC also stated that, in addition to measures against Chinese products, the US has also taken trade protection measures against anti-corrosion steel plate from India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan. As for the long term, the trade protectionism of the US will weaken the competitiveness of the US steel industry, which is not in line with the overall economic interests of the US, the MOC continued, adding that the difficulties that the global steel industry is facing are caused by the international financial crisis. To resolve problems, all countries should enhance communication and cooperation instead of resorting to frequent trade protection measures, the MOC stressed.