The National Tariff Commission of Pakistan has launched an anti-dumping investigation on cold-rolled steel coils (CRC) and steel sheets imported from Vietnam and three other countries and territories.

Pakistan launches anti-dumping investigation on Vietnam’s steel imports. Photo: Ton Hoa Sen

The move came after Karachi-based steel manufacturers, International Steels Limited and Aisha Steel Mills Limited filed an anti-dumping petition on December 28, 2020 against the imports of cold rolled steel coils and steel sheets from Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan (China) and the EU.  

The applicants alleged that cold rolled steel imports are being exported to Pakistan at prices below normal price and causing injury to its steel production.

The products subject to safeguard measures are classified under tariffs codes 7209.1510, 7209.1590, and among others. 

The anti-dumping period under investigation was from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, and the injury determination was carried out from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2020.

The preliminary ruling was scheduled to be made within 60 to 180 days after the official announcement (on February 25).

The Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommended related associations and manufacturers/exporters to quickly cooperate with the investigation unit, regularly exchange information with Pakistani importers to raise voice with the government of Pakistan.

In February, the Canada Border Services Agency announced it is launching investigations to determine whether certain upholstered domestic seating from China and Vietnam is being sold at unfair prices in Canada.

The investigations are the result of a complaint filed by Palliser Furniture Ltd., and supported by Elran Furniture Ltd., Jaymar Furniture Corp., EQ3 Ltd., and Fornirama Inc. 

The complainant alleges that as a result of an increase of the volume of the dumped and subsidized imports from these countries, it has suffered material injury in the form of lost market share, lost sales, price undercutting, price depression, declining financial performance and reduced capacity utilization.