Pakistan’s National Tariff Commission (NTC) has initiated an antidumping investigation into imports of cold rolled-based color coated steel coils and sheets originating in and/or exported from China following a complaint filed by International Steels Limited (ISL), the country’s sole producer of pre-painted steel products.
According to the NTC, the applicant alleged that dumped imports from China caused and continue to cause material injury to Pakistan’s domestic industry producing color coated cold rolled steel products.
The investigated products include pre-painted, painted, color coated, or organic coated flat cold rolled steel products with or without metallic coated substrates such as zinc or aluminum-zinc coatings. The products cover alloy and non-alloy steel in coil, sheet, or profiled sheet form.
The products under investigation are classified under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) codes 7210.7010, 7210.7020, 7210.7090, 7210.9010, 7210.9090, 7212.4010, 7212.4090, and 7225.9900.
The dumping investigation period covers January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, while the injury investigation period covers January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025. According to the commission, the preliminary determination is expected within 60-180 days from the initiation date.
The latest investigation comes amid increasing pressure from Pakistani steel producers for broader anti-circumvention measures on steel imports, with local mills alleging that some importers are mis-declaring products to bypass existing duties.
Earlier this year, the NTC extended existing antidumping duties on cold rolled steel imports from China to cover products with widths exceeding 1,250 mm following an affirmative anti-circumvention ruling. The original duties, ranging from 13.17pct to 19.04pct, were first imposed in 2016 and later extended for another five years in 2021.
The commission also maintained antidumping duties in 2023 on pre-painted galvanized steel coils and sheets imported from China and South Africa following a sunset review. Duties on Chinese products range from 5.36pct to 10.88pct, while imports from South Africa are subject to a fixed duty of 14.24pct.