The Ministry of Industry and Trade on Wednesday decided to conduct an anti-dumping investigation into H-shaped steel products imported from China (including Hong Kong).

Under Decision 3993/QD-BCT, the steel products under investigation are coded HS 7216.33.00, 7228.70.10 and 7228.70.90.

The dumping period of investigation is from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016, and the damage period of investigation is from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2016, according to the decision.

The investigation was launched after the ministry’s Vietnam Competition Authority (VCA) scrutinised an appeal from domestic steel enterprises in July demanding imposition of anti-dumping measures on H-shaped Chinese steel products.

The purpose of the petition was to prevent the products from being dumped in Vietnam, which seriously affected local businesses, the enterprises said. 

To aid the investigation, the VCA asked petitioners to provide their firms’ information related to design capacity and output of H-shaped steel in the past three years and during the first half of this year.

Currently, the VCA is carrying out an anti-dumping probe into colour-coated steel sheets imported from China and South Korea.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade this year also decided to impose additional tariffs on imported alloys, non-alloy steel ingots and steel rods to safeguard against cheap imports that were allegedly threatening the domestic industry.