China will extend its anti-dumping (AD) duties on stainless steel billets and hot-rolled stainless steel plates and coils imported from the EU, UK, South Korea, and Indonesia for an additional five years starting July 1, 2025. The Ministry of Commerce confirmed that the extension maintains existing duty rates: 43% for EU and UK firms, 23.1% for South Korea’s POSCO, 103.1% for other Korean producers, and 20.2% for Indonesian companies.
The affected products fall under a range of harmonized system (HS) codes including 72189100, 72191100, and 72223000. However, China clarified that only stainless steel billets and hot-rolled stainless steel plates/coils under HS code 72223000 are subject to the renewed duties—other items within that code are exempt.
The government justified its decision by stating that the domestic stainless steel industry could suffer continued material harm if the measures were lifted. These products are key in manufacturing sectors such as shipbuilding, power generation, containers, and railway construction.
The extension signals China’s sustained protection of its domestic metallurgical sector amid global trade tensions and fluctuating steel demand. The decision also highlights the strategic importance of maintaining competitiveness in core industrial inputs.
