In a move considered to have a significant impact on the Vietnamese steel market, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has just issued a decision to apply preliminary anti-dumping duties on certain hot-rolled coil (HRC) steel products imported from China, with a tax rate of up to 27.83%. This decision was made after the investigating agency discovered signs of circumvention of previously applied trade defense measures. Chinese HRC steel is also a key factor in shaping this market.
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Detection of anti-dumping tax evasion
At the same time, Chinese HRC steel is also changing the competitive landscape in the global steel industry.
Chinese HRC steel has had a far-reaching impact on the domestic steel industry, forcing manufacturers to adjust their business strategies.
According to preliminary investigation results, authorities have determined that some hot-rolled steel products with widths ranging from 1,880 mm to 2,300 mm, originating from China, show signs of circumventing trade safeguard measures currently applied in Vietnam.
Detecting and addressing tax evasion practices related to Chinese HRC steel will help protect the domestic steel market.
To ensure sustainable development, the Chinese HRC steel market needs to be monitored and evaluated regularly.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that this practice was carried out through insignificant changes to the characteristics of goods in order to circumvent the scope of application of Decision No. 1959/QD-BCT dated July 4, 2025, on the official anti-dumping duties on certain hot-rolled steel products imported from China.
The investigation revealed that the volume of imports suspected of circumvention has increased rapidly recently, undermining the effectiveness of measures to protect domestic industries.
The competitive pressure on domestic businesses is increasing.
According to the investigation, the influx of low-priced steel imports from China has significantly impacted domestic HRC manufacturers.
In the context of the steel industry facing fierce competition from global oversupply, protecting the domestic market is considered a crucial factor in maintaining the production capacity and long-term investment of domestic enterprises.
With competitive pricing, Chinese HRC steel is dominating the domestic market, requiring businesses to take appropriate countermeasures.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has just issued a decision to apply preliminary anti-dumping duties on certain hot-rolled coil (HRC) steel products imported from China, with a tax rate of up to 27.83%.
Recommendations from major manufacturers
Before the investigation was launched, Hoa Phat and Formosa Ha Tinh submitted a petition to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, reflecting concerns about the alleged evasion of anti-dumping duties by imported wide-width hot-rolled steel from China and proposing an expansion of the scope of trade safeguard measures.
The dossiers of the two businesses were deemed valid in September 2025, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade officially initiated the investigation on October 27, 2025.
This move demonstrates the increasing proactiveness of Vietnamese steel companies in using trade defense tools to protect their production from competitive pressure from imported goods.
Imports of HRC steel from China have surged.
One of the key reasons for the decision to impose tariffs is the unusually high volume of wide-width HRC steel imported from China. According to investigation data, in the first six months of 2025 alone, Vietnam imported nearly 650,000 tons of wide-width HRC steel from this market, an increase of approximately 15 times compared to the same period of the previous year.
The increase in imports of HRC steel from China is not only affecting prices but also changing the way businesses operate in the industry.
Large volumes of competitively priced imports have put significant pressure on domestic producers, especially given that consumer demand has not fully recovered and the global steel industry is still facing a prolonged oversupply situation.
Positive signals for Vietnam’s steel industry.
The application of preliminary anti-dumping duties is expected to contribute to restoring the effectiveness of existing trade safeguard measures.
In the long term, this move will not only support domestic HRC manufacturers but also contribute to boosting investment in capacity expansion projects.
The Vietnamese steel industry needs to improve its competitiveness in the face of the surge in Chinese HRC steel to ensure long-term benefits for domestic producers.
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