Mexico slaps antidumping duty on Chinese steel

Mexico imposed antidumping duties on imports of flat coated steel from China and Taiwan.

Duties were set at between 22.2% and 76.3% after an investigation found evidence of dumping and a threat of damage to domestic producers, according to a filing on the federal gazette website.

The probe was launched by the economy ministry in December 2015 at the request of local producers Ternium and Tenigal.

The products covered are flat carbon steel or steel alloy, corrosion resistant and with a metallic or non-metallic coating.

Duties were set at 22.2-22.3% for imports by Chinese Steel Corp, Baoshan Steel and other imports from Beijing Shougang, Shougang Jingtag and Tangshan.

The figure is 52.6% for other Taiwanese exporters and 76.3% for other Chinese exporters.

Dumping is a key threat to Mexico's steel sector, with China seen as a major culprit.

The duty is the first imposed on steel products by Mexico in 2017. Four new antidumping duties were imposed on steel imports in 2016 and two the previous year.

Mexico also extended a 15% tariff covering more than 90 steel products for a further six months in April. The tax is aimed at helping tackle dumping.