The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that Thailand has decided to impose a provisional safeguard duty regarding imports of hot rolled steel flat products with certain amounts of alloying elements such as boron and chromium. The duty entered into force on February 27 for 200 days.
According to the WTO statement, the provisional duty will be 33.11 percent. However, certain developing countries including Taiwan, South Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Kazakhstan, Iran, Egypt and Turkey will be exempt from the safeguard duty.
The products concerned are mainly imported into Thailand from China, Japan and South Korea, with respective shares in 2012 of 42.39 percent, 25.26 percent and 20.13 percent.
The goods subject to investigation are currently classified under Harmonized System Code Numbers 7225.30.90.011, 7225.30.90.012, 7225.30.90.013, 7225.30.90.014, 7225.30.90.021, 7225.30.90.022, 7225.30.90.023, 7225.30.90.024, 7225.30.90.090, 7225.40.90.011, 7225.40.90.012, 7225.40.90.013, 7225.40.90.014, 7225.40.90.021, 7225.40.90.022, 7225.40.90.023, 7225.40.90.024, 7225.40.90.090, 7226.91.10.011, 7226.91.10.012, 7226.91.10.013, 7226.91.10.014, 7226.91.10.021, 7226.91.10.022, 7226.91.10.023, 7226.91.10.024, 7226.91.10.090, 7226.91.90.011, 7226.91.90.012, 7226.91.90.013, 7226.91.90.014, 7226.91.90.021, 7226.91.90.022, 7226.91.90.023, 7226.91.90.024 and 7226.91.90.090.