South Korea imposes AD duties on HRC from China and Japan, approves minimum price agreements for some exporters

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of South Korea has announced a decision to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of hot-rolled carbon steel and other alloy steel products from China and Japan.

Chinese exporters will have to face anti-dumping duties ranging from 28.16% to 33.10%, while Japanese suppliers will be subject to rates ranging from 31.58% to 33.43%.

Individual manufacturers are exempt from tax through minimum price agreements

Along with the anti-dumping measures, the ministry accepted price commitments from several Chinese and Japanese manufacturers, which allowed them to export covered products to South Korea at agreed minimum prices or higher instead of paying anti-dumping duties. The agreements were adopted on June 23, 2026 and will enter into force after publication by the South Korean government.

The Chinese manufacturers covered by the agreement include Angang Steel, Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel), Wuhan Iron & Steel, Maanshan Iron & Steel, Hebei Yanshan Iron and Steel, Shougang Jingtang, Jiangsu Shagang Steel and Rizhao Steel, as well as their designated export trading enterprises.

Japanese participants include Nippon Steel Trading Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation Global Metals Co., Ltd., Dongkuk Corporation, SeAH Japan Co., Ltd., Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc., Metal One Corporation, Nissei Trading Co., Ltd., JFE Shoji Corporation, Okya & Co., Ltd., POSCO International Japan Corp., Young Steel Co., Ltd. and Toyota Tsusho Corporation, as well as their subsidiaries.

Only products produced by these companies and exported through designated trading companies are eligible to participate in this commitment. Exports of other companies are still subject to anti-dumping duties.

Minimum export prices will be adjusted quarterly

The obligation applies to hot-rolled flat products made of carbon steel and other alloy steels, including hot-rolled coils, sheets and plates imported from China and Japan in accordance with the specified tariff codes of the Harmonized Tariff Table of Korea (HSK). Goods excluded from South Korea's anti-dumping rules or subject to zero percent anti-dumping duties are not covered.

The specified products have HSK codes 7208.10.1000, 7208.10.9000, 7208.25.1000, 7208.25.9000, 7208.26.1000, 7208.26.9000, 7208.27.1000, 7208.27.9000, 7208.36.1000, 7208.36.9000, 7208.37.1000, 7208.37.9000, 7208.38.1000, 7208.38.9000, 7208.39.1000, 7208.39.9000, 7208.40.0000, 7208.53.1000, 7208.53.9000, 7208.54.1000, 7208.54.9000, 7208.90.0000, 7211.13.0000, 7211.14.1000, 7211.14.9000, 7211.19.1000, 7211.19.9000, 7225.30.1000, 7225.30.9010, 7225.30.9091, 7225.30.9092, 7225.40.1000, 7225.30.9099, 7225.40.9092, 7226.20.0000, 7226.91.1000, 7226.91.2000 and 7226.91.9000.