As of October 2025, 62 countries have imposed 207 trade restrictions on Chinese steel imports to counter state subsidies and market distortions, according to OECD data.
Chinese steel exports more than doubled since 2020, reaching 118 million mt in 2024. In Jan–Aug 2025, exports were 77.5 million mt, up 10% y-o-y, and may surpass last year’s record.
Chinese producers benefit from subsidies worth five times more than those in other economies — including grants, tax breaks, cheap loans, and subsidized energy — enabling below-cost exports that undermine global markets.
Trade defenses now cover almost all steel products (rebar, HRC, CRC, coated, stainless, plates, pipes), with anti-dumping duties remaining the most widely used tool.
Major measures include:
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EU & Canada: tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) with out-of-quota tariffs of 25–50%.
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US: doubled Section 232 tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50% in June 2025.
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Canada: applies an extra 25% surtax on Chinese-origin steel.
These layered defenses aim to protect domestic industries, secure jobs, and stabilize markets amid China’s export surge.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
