CITT has not recommended final safeguard duty for rebar or wire rods
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has recommended final safeguard duties for only two steel products, i.e., heavy plate and stainless steel wire, from among the seven steel products that have already been subject to provisional safeguard duties since October 2018. For the remaining five products, the CITT has either found no increase in imports or found that imports have not harmed the Canadian steel industry. In October 2018, Canada... Read More
EU quota for “other countries” now open to all
As of April 1, 2019, the European Commission’s steel import quotas for “other countries” have become accessible to all countries, while the unused quotas of “other countries” for the February 2-March 31 period have also become accessible to all countries which have used up their own quotas for the period. Accordingly “other countries” import quotas, for the period between April 1 and June 30, stand at 133,004 mt for rebar, and at 74,518... Read More
Mexico renewed 15 percent tariff over steel imports
Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Monday he has renewed a 15 percent tariff over certain steel imports from China and other countries with which Mexico does not have trade agreements. The decision was published on March 25th at local official gazette Diario Oficial Federal (DOF), covering 175 products. The tariff will be effective on March 26th. The renewed 15 percent import tariff covers imports of slab, CRC, HRC, heavy plate... Read More
Short Range Outlook : March 2019
Positive mood prevails in global long steel products market despite virus of protectionism The global long steel products market is currently in a positive mood amid good demand worldwide. Had there not been protectionist actions like additional tariffs, quotas or safeguard measures, the global business scenario would be much better. Protectionism is like a virus, expanding and hurting the international trade environment as we knew it. Canada and... Read More
Brazil notified WTO it will retaliate against EU following steel quotas
Brazil has officially notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) it will suspend export benefits for the European Union (EU). The notice follows an EU decision to impose a steel tariff quota for exceeding exports of certain steel products from several countries, including Brazil. Brazil told the WTO it intends to suspend export benefits for the EU for 30 days, although the affected European products were not specified. According to the Brazilian... Read More
Mexico to renew 15 percent import tariff
Mexico’s ministry of economy announced yesterday that it will renew a provisional 15 percent tariff against imports of several steel products from countries with which the nation does not have existing trade agreements. The tariff will last for six months, and apply to imports of slab, CRC, HRC, heavy plate and wire rod. The tariff previously expired on Jan. 31, 2019. Read More
Canada exempts Mexico from safeguard measures on wire rod imports
Canadian finance minister Bill Morneau has exempted NAFTA ally Mexico from controversial safeguard measures on imports of energy tubular products and wire rod, as reported by Canada-based CBC News. Accordingly, the imports of these products from Mexico will no longer cost an extra 25 percent, effective as of February 2, 2019. The duties already paid by Mexican steel purchasers will be refunded. Finance minister Morneau’s spokesperson Pierre-Olivier... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2019
Price levels improve in global long steel products market despite uncertainties Prices in the global long steel products market are better compared to our last report, though there is a certain degree of uncertainty regarding how sustainable the current price levels are. The situation has gotten worse generally in terms of demand and supply, as there seems to be a general worsening of expectations and the numbers coming in do not bode well. Brazilian... Read More
EU announces definitive safeguard measures on steel imports
The European Commission has announced final measures on steel imports. Accordingly, a tariff-rate quota will be applicable for the period February 2, 2019 to June 30, 2019, thereafter, for the period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, and, thereafter, for the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The European Commission said that, since the duration of the measures is for over a year, the measures must be progressively liberalized at regular intervals... Read More
European Parliament voted in favor of safeguard measures
The European Parliament voted today in favor of the proposed safeguard measures against steel imports. Accordingly, the European Commission is expected to finalize the procedure and measures are expected to enter into force in early February. The proposed measures envisage import quotas for a period between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 and that the quota volumes will be increased by five percent for the period between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. The... Read More