1/4/2010
HEADLINES
China Imposes Tariffs on EU Carbon Fastener Imports

China will impose antidumping tariffs on certain types of carbon steel fasteners from the European Union after determining EU imports had hurt domestic producers, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce. The decision comes months after EU placed duties on Chinese fasteners.

The duties, ranging from 16.8% to 24.6%, will reportedly begin on December 28.

China decided that the carbon steel fastener industry had suffered material damages due to the dumping of EU imports. During the first nine months of 2008 China imported 21,300 tons of carbon steel fasteners, taking up 9.74% of the Chinese market.

China started probing EU carbon fastener imports on December 29, 2008, after the European Commission adopted antidumping duties averaging 85% on certain Chinese fasteners, concluding that Chinese producers had flooded the market with fasteners at 30% to 50% below European prices.

The products in question include CN codes 73181200, 73181400, 73181500, 73182100 and 73182200.

EU carbon fasteners include wood screws, self-tapping screws, screws and bolts (with or without nut and wash, excluding screws applied in railway and the screws and bolts which are shorter than 6 mm) and washers. Nut are excluded from the tariff order.

China has appealed the EU tariffs to the World Trade Organization, which opened an official probe in the case in October.

Antidumping Probe Extended 6 months
China’s Ministry of Commerce added six months to its antidumping investigation into EU carbon steel fasteners.

Calling the case “quite special and complicated,” the ministry said the investigation would continue until the end of June 2010. ©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com

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