The Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) has announced that the country’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has initiated a safeguard investigation regarding imports of steel billets and long steel products upon the complaint lodged by local producers Hoa Phat Steel, Southern Steel, Thái Nguyên Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) and Vietnam Italy Steel Joint Stock Company.
According to the VSA, the investigation duration will not exceed six months or may be extended once for another two subsequent months and the Ministry of Industry and Trade may issue decisions to apply temporary safeguard measures before the end of the investigation, if the slow implementation of the safeguard measures causes or threatens to cause serious injury to the domestic industry.
The goods under investigation are currently classified under Harmonized System Code Numbers 7207.11.00, 7207.19.00, 7207.20.29, 7207.20.99, 7224.90.00, 7213.10.00, 7213.91.20, 7214.20.31, 7214.20.41, 7227.90.00, 7228.30.10 and 9811.00.00.