The Japan Iron and Steel Federation and other industry groups are calling on the government to swiftly create a system to address "loopholes" that allow Chinese steel to circumvent anti-dumping duties. According to a joint statement, the industry is under increasing pressure from a surge in Chinese steel exports, which are reportedly entering the country through illicit means. The groups claim that common methods to avoid duties include shipping steel through third countries and carrying out minimal processing to change its country of origin. This practice renders existing anti-dumping tariffs ineffective. While the government is currently considering imposing tariffs on specific items like Chinese hot-dip galvanized steel sheets, industry leaders argue that these measures will fail unless the avoidance tactics are also addressed. The federation pointed out that among the Group of 20 major economies, Japan and Indonesia are the only ones without a system in place to combat anti-dumping circumvention. This urgent appeal underscores the Japanese steel industry's concerns about unfair competition and its efforts to secure a level playing field in the domestic market.