EU to extend HRC duties on Brazil, Iran, Russia

The European Commission is set to extend anti-dumping duties on hot-rolled coil (HRC) from Brazil, Iran and Russia for a further five years.

The duties were first imposed in 2017 and the commission started an expiry review on 5 October 2022. Duties are €54.50-63/t for Brazilian producers, €57.50/t for Iranian mills and €17.60-96.50/t for Russian mills, with steel firm Severstal at the lower end and others with a more significant duty.

The commission's review concluded that dumping would be likely to reoccur if the measures were lifted. It found no material injury during the review period, but said injury would be likely to reoccur if the measures lapsed.

To minimise circumvention risks, given the different duty rates for various mills, a source close to the commission said that "special measures" are required.

This would take the form of companies with individual dumping duties presenting a commercial invoice to the relevant customs authorities within the EU. If the invoice is not presented, imports will face duties applicable to other companies, rather than for the individual mill. Should exports from one of the companies with lower individual duty rates rise significantly, an anti-circumvention investigation could be triggered, examining the need for a countrywide duty.

Dumping and safeguard duties would not be payable concurrently, only that which is higher.

By Colin Richardson