The European Commission (EC) has officially imposed anti-dumping duties on hot-rolled steel products imported from Vietnam, Japan, and Egypt, concluding a nearly year-long investigation. For Vietnam, the dumping margin is set between 0% and 12.1%, matching the preliminary findings published in April 2025.
The anti-dumping probe was initiated on August 8, 2024, following a formal complaint by Eurofer (the European Steel Association). The investigation targeted certain hot-rolled flat steel products, categorized under CN codes 7208, 7211, 7225, and 7226, which were alleged to be sold below fair market value, harming EU producers.
The dumping period covered shipments from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, while the injury assessment period spanned January 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024.
Excluded from the scope of the investigation were:
Stainless steel and grain-oriented electrical steel,
Specialty tool steels with high hardness,
Non-coiled steel without textured surfaces and thickness over 10mm (width ≥600mm),
Non-coiled steel with thickness from 4.75mm to 10mm (width ≥2050mm).
Based on company data and adjustments made under EU regulations, the EC determined the final dumping margins for Vietnamese exporters to be between 0% and 12.1%—the same range published in its preliminary determination.
Despite some industry concerns, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) emphasized that the final ruling did not find sufficient evidence to support the claim that Vietnam’s export tax policies on raw materials—such as iron ore and coking coal—provided unfair cost advantages to domestic steel producers.
According to the Commission's findings, Vietnamese companies primarily import iron ore and coal from international markets, as domestic sources are insufficient in both quality and volume. Therefore, the pricing of raw materials is not influenced by Vietnam's domestic policies.
The EC also concluded that EU producers of hot-rolled steel have suffered significant material injury, citing declining market share, falling prices, shrinking profits, reduced investments, and workforce reductions as key indicators.
This decision aligns with the bloc’s ongoing efforts to shield strategic industries from market distortions caused by unfair trade practices. The new tariffs are expected to rebalance market competition and offer a lifeline to struggling EU steelmakers.
The ruling creates a mixed landscape for Vietnamese steel exporters. While some companies with a 0% dumping margin will continue accessing the EU market without additional tariffs, others will face up to 12.1% in duties, potentially impacting their competitiveness.
Vietnamese authorities are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely and may provide technical support to affected companies to improve compliance and trade defense capacity.
Tiếng Việt
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