Russia Ministry Proposes Anti-dumping Steel Duties

Russia's Industry and Trade Ministry said on June 22 it had proposed imposing anti-dumping duties on some nickel-containing rolled steel originating from China, South Korea, Brazil and South Africa for five years.

The potential measures may hurt major steel producers including Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co of China and the world's No. 4 steel producer South Korean POSCO.

It was not immediately clear when the tariffs may be imposed. Setting a tariff is a lengthy bureaucratic procedure, which may take months.

The ministry said in a report on its website www.minprom.gov.ru that importers of steel from these countries were found selling it at dumping prices in Russia in 2006-2008.

The ministry proposes to apply the duty to some types of stainless steel rolls with nickel content of 2.5 percent and more on top of the standard import duty of 10 percent of the customs value.

An exception was made for some types of steel, particularly that used in production of aircraft engines.

The ministry proposed setting a duty of 39.1 percent of the customs value for steel produced by Chinese firms, but an exception was made for flagship steel producer Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co, for which it proposed a 29.9 percent tariff.

It proposed a tariff of 62.8 percent for steel produced in South Korea, save for POSCO, for which a tariff of 4.8 percent was proposed.

Importers of Brazilian steel will have to pay a tariff of 21.1 percent of the customs value and of South African steel 33.3 percent.