EU Starts AD Probe on Chinese Coated Steel Products

The European Union threatened to impose tariffs on organic coated steel from China to curb competition for EU producers.

The EU opened an inquiry into whether Chinese manufacturers of the metal sell it in the 27-nation bloc below cost, a practice known as dumping.

This kind of steel is used in domestic appliances, construction, heating and furniture, among other things, according to ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker.

EC said that the investigation will determine if organic coated steel from China is being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury to the union industry.

The commission has nine months to decide whether to impose provisional anti dumping duties for half a year and EU governments have 15 months to decide whether to apply definitive levies for five years.

The probe stems from a November 7 complaint by the European steel industry association, EUROFER, on behalf of producers that account for more than 70% of the EU's output of organic coated steel.