Number of Import Restrictions against South Korea Increases by 33 in 1 Year

The Korea International Trade Association announced on Oct. 20 that a total of 33 anti-dumping and safeguard investigations were newly launched against South Korea from September 2018 to September 2019.

The investigations are divided into 17 safeguard investigations and 16 anti-dumping investigations. For example, Australia’s anti-dumping investigation regarding high-density polyethylene started on June 24, the United States’ anti-dumping investigation regarding wind towers started on July 29, and the United States’ anti-dumping investigation regarding polyethylene terephthalate sheets started on Aug. 19. In addition, India’s anti-dumping investigations regarding tin plates and rolled stainless steel were respectively launched on June 28 and July 3 before its safeguard investigations concerning phenol (Aug. 26) and single-mode optical fibers (Sep. 23).

As of Oct. 1 this year, 201 import restrictions targeting South Korea were in effect in 29 countries with 15 anti-dumping and 17 safeguard investigations underway and 134 anti-dumping regulations, eight countervailing duties and 27 safeguards already in effect.

The Chinese government made its final anti-dumping determination on panels on June 6, Vietnam imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on colored steel sheets on June 18, and Madagascar took a provisional safeguard measure on pasta.

The import restrictions include 39 implemented by the United States, 28 by India, 28 by Indonesia, 18 by China, 14 by Turkey, 13 by Canada and 11 by Brazil. By item, those include 96 on steel and metal, 37 on chemical products, 13 on textiles, and eight on electrical and electronic products.