The products in question are sheet and hot rolled steel, as well as stainless steel slabs.
The move was initiated after Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co. Ltd., on behalf of a group of companies that collectively accounted for over 50 percent of China's steel production from 2014-2017, requested the ministry to launch an investigation into the relevant products. The prices for these products has dropped considerably due to cheap imports, according to the ministry’s statement.
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The ministry examined the request and recognized its arguments as well as their compliance with national legislation.
The investigation will last for exactly one year – until July 23, 2019 – and, if necessary, could be extended to January 23, 2020.