Chinese steel imports that have reached the U.S. via Vietnam have been subject to hefty new tariffs, Reuters reports, following a ruling that found they violated a U.S. anti-dumping regulation.
The U.S. Commerce Department ordered a 199.76% duty, with countervailing duties of 256.44%, on cold-rolled steel produced in Vietnam using Chinese materials to be introduced. The new measures will be in addition to the standing 25% tariff on many steel products shipped into the U.S. in line with the White House’s “Section 232” national security investigation into steel and aluminium imports.
The American steel industry has long advocated harsher measures against China’s alleged dumping practices. Tariffs had previously been imposed in 2015 and 2016, but steelmakers claimed that the commodity was just being funnelled through third-countries in order to avoid the tax.