Latest news with #JapanIronandSteelFederation
a day ago
- Business
Japan Steel Industry Urges Govt to Close Anti-Dumping Loopholes
News from Japan Economy Aug 19, 2025 17:10 (JST) Tokyo, Aug. 19 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Iron and Steel Federation and other industry groups have urged the government to establish a system soon to prevent the exploitation of "loopholes" that allow Chinese steel to avoid anti-dumping duties. The groups emphasized the growing need for countermeasures amid increasing pressure from Chinese steel exports to Japan. They claimed that efforts to avoid the anti-dumping duties are rampant, including shipping through third countries and minimal processing. While the government is currently studying whether it is necessary to impose anti-dumping tariffs on items including Chinese hot-dip galvanized steel sheets, the groups argued that the duties would be ineffective without combatting these efforts. According to the groups, Japan and Indonesia are the only members of the Group of 20 major economies without a system to combat efforts to avoid anti-dumping duties. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Japan steel groups seek reforms to stop tariff evasion as China exports surge
FILE PHOTO: Workers load steel products for export to a cargo ship at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China May 27, 2020. Japan has recently launched an anti-dumping investigation into hot-dip galvanised steel from China and South Korea. - China Daily via Reuters. TOKYO: Japanese steel lobby groups said on Monday (Aug 18) they have requested the early introduction of measures to prevent the evasion of anti-dumping tariffs aimed at protecting domestic industries from unfair imports. The move comes as record steel exports from China, the world's largest producer, have sparked a protectionist backlash globally, with almost 40 countries starting anti-dumping investigations since January last year. The Japan Iron and Steel Federation and four other industry groups said swift action is needed as countries such as China attempt to avoid anti-dumping tariffs by routing exports through third countries or conducting minimal processing to evade duties. Japan has recently launched an anti-dumping investigation into hot-dip galvanised steel from China and South Korea, following a similar probe, kicked in July, into nickel-based stainless cold-rolled steel sheets and strips imported from China and Taiwan. Even if anti-dumping measures are imposed, without steps to prevent circumvention, "their effectiveness will be significantly undermined," Takanari Yamashita, managing director of the steel federation, told reporters. He stressed that the aim is to strengthen the anti-dumping system and ensure fair competition, not to pursue protectionism. According to the federation, 18 of the Group of Twenty (G20) nations already have anti-circumvention systems in place, leaving only Japan and Indonesia without such measures. Currently, if Japan seeks to address circumvention, it must launch an entirely new anti-dumping investigation. For this reason, industry groups are urging the government to establish separate tax rules from existing anti-dumping tariffs under the tax reform planned for the next fiscal year starting April 1. They are also calling for more trade investigators and improvements to the probe system. - Reuters
Reuters
24-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Japan crude steel output falls for 12th straight month in February
TOKYO, March 24 (Reuters) - Japan's crude steel output fell 8.5 % in February from a year earlier for a 12th straight monthly decline, as demand from the construction sector stayed weak, an industry body said on Monday. Output, which is not seasonally adjusted, dropped to 6.4 million metric tons, the lowest monthly figure since July 2020, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation said. It was also down 5.7% from January. Get a look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. newsletter. Sign up here. Delays or postponements in construction projects due to soaring material costs and labour shortages depressed demand in the sector, hitting production in the world's third-biggest steelmaking nation, a federation analyst said. U.S. tariffs on steel and automobiles could reduce Japan's annual steel output by several million tons, Tadashi Imai, the chairman of the federation, warned. "Annual crude steel production in Japan could fall below 80 million tons," Imai said, adding that direct steel exports of more than 1 million tons to the United States, and steel products used in automobiles exported there, could be hit. Japan's crude steel output was 84 million tons in 2024. Imai, who is also the president of Nippon Steel (5401.T), opens new tab, flagged concerns about the global spread of protectionism, saying Japan could face an influx of inexpensive steel products as it has not adopted trade protection measures. While many countries have instituted anti-dumping measures and similar actions against China's exports of cheap steel, Japan has not responded. "We hope the Japanese government will take concrete actions to address our concerns," Imai said. U.S. President Donald Trump has already raised duties on imports of steel and aluminium to 25% from March 12, with no exemptions. Tariffs on vehicles and auto parts could take effect as soon as April 2. Japan's trade minister asked the United States this month not to impose trade tariffs, but received no assurance of an exemption, including from duties of 25% on steel and aluminium. "We hope the Japanese government will continue discussions with U.S. counterparts to ensure Japanese steel is exempt from tariffs," Imai added.
Reuters
06-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Japan seeks steel import tariff exemption from India, documents show
NEW DELHI, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Japan has called on India to exempt it from any temporary tax aimed at curbing rising steel imports, according to a source and documents, arguing the move would crimp supplies of high-grade, speciality alloys that New Delhi needs. India, the world's second biggest crude steel producer, initiated an investigation in December to consider if it should impose a temporary tax, locally known as a safeguard duty, to curtail steel imports. Last month, India's Minister of Steel H. D. Kumaraswamy confirmed that the probe was underway. "Japanese steel products are exported to meet the demand for high-performance steel in India," according to a presentation made by a visiting Japanese delegation to India's steel ministry this week. "These products cannot be manufactured domestically in India, or even if they are manufactured, the supply quantity and quality do not meet the requirements of domestic consumers," the presentation documents showed. The presentation called for "consideration to exempt" Japan from India's tariffs. The Japanese embassy in India, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation and India's trade and steel ministries did not respond to emails from Reuters seeking comment. The presentation was made during the third India-Japan Steel Dialogue held in New Delhi. The Japanese delegation comprised government and industry officials. An Indian industry official who attended the meeting confirmed the details of the presentation. The source did not want to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to media. Overcapacity in China and the regional bloc ASEAN led to the investigation being carried out by India, and that is why New Delhi should consider imposing country-specific curbs, exempting Tokyo, the presentation from Japan showed. A flood of cheap Chinese steel has pushed India's smaller mills to scale down operations and consider job cuts, Reuters reported in December. Before the presentation on February 4, the Japanese embassy in New Delhi sent letters to India's trade and steel ministries, urging them not to impose a temporary tax on steel imports, according to the source and the documents. In a separate letter and presentation in December and January, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation urged the Indian government to exempt Japanese steel mills from any temporary tax, according to the source and documents. The Japan Iron and Steel Federation counts Nippon Steel (5401.T), opens new tab and JFE Steel Corp ( among its members, according to its website. India's overall finished steel imports reached a six-year high during the first nine months of the fiscal year that began in April 2024, with shipments from Japan hitting at least a seven-year high, nearly doubling from a year earlier, according to provisional government data reviewed by Reuters. Shipments from China, South Korea and Japan accounted for 79% of India's overall finished steel imports during the April-December period. Japan alone accounted for nearly a quarter of all finished steel imports. here.
