On May 17 Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced a review on the necessity of keeping on levying anti-dumping duties on imported cold rolled steel products originated from Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, Kazakstan and China's Taiwan area.

The anti-dumping investigation was initiated by the former Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Foreign Trade on Mar. 23, 2002. The Ministry of Commerce then ruled that the above-mentioned four countries and one area were dumping the products under the investigation into the Chinese mainland market and substantial injury was thus caused by such dumping to the industry in Chinese mainland. Under the approval of the Taxation Rules Commission of the State Council, anti-dumping taxes has been imposed since Jan.14, 2004.

However, substantial changes have taken place on the international and domestic market for the cold rolled steel products since then. In line with Article 49 of Anti-dumping Regulations of PRC, the Ministry of Commerce decided to launch a review on the necessity of carrying on anti-dumping duties on products under investigation which are originally produced by the four countries and an area mentioned above. A hearing is schedule on June 1, 2004.

Parties of interest which wish to participate into the review process and the hearing is expected to submit its application within 10 days from the date when the announcement is released. Any party of interest which fails to put forward its application by the deadline will not be admitted to the hearing and will face a refusal from Ministry of Commerce to its materials and a ruling made by Ministry of Commerce based on evidences available to the Ministry.

(People's Daily May 18, 2004)