Anti-dumping duties slapped on China, Ukraine

KARACHI: The government imposed anti-dumping duties for four months on some steel products imports from China and Ukraine on Wednesday after its investigation showed that the products were at below market prices, an announcement said.

The National Tariff Commission (NTC) of Pakistan imposed duties in the range of 8.31 and 19.04 percent on imports of cold-rolled coils and sheets from exporters based in China and Ukraine after a preliminary finding that they dumped two products during April 2014 to March 2015 into the country.

In July 2015, the NTC initiated an investigation after a local cold rolled coils/sheets producer Aisha Steel Mills Limited lodged a dumping complaint. 

“The domestic industry suffered a material injury on account of increase in volume of dumped imports, price undercutting, depression, and suppression, decline in market share, profits, sales, capacity utilisation and return on investment and negative effect on cash flow, inventories and ability to raise capital,” said Muhammad Shahid, secretary at the commission, in a notification.  "The commission has also examined factors other than dumped imports … which could at the same time cause injury to the domestic industry.” 

The NTC imposed duties on Chinese firms, including Shougang Casey Steel Company Limited, Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel Co. Limited, Beijing Shougang Cold Rolling Company Limited, Handan Iron & Steel Group Han-Bao Co. Limited, and Maanshan Iron & Steel Company Limited. Ukrainian companies include Zaporizhstal Integrated Iron-and-Steel Works, and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol.