{"id":2822,"date":"2026-10-29T20:53:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T20:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/japan-imposes-five-year-duties-on-chinese-and-taiwanese-stainless\/"},"modified":"2026-10-29T20:53:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T20:53:51","slug":"japan-imposes-five-year-duties-on-chinese-and-taiwanese-stainless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hscodematch.com\/news\/japan-imposes-five-year-duties-on-chinese-and-taiwanese-stainless\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan Imposes Five-Year Duties on Chinese and Taiwanese Stainless Steel Sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Japan will charge anti-dumping duties of 3.6% to 42.1% on nickel stainless steel sheet from China and Taiwan from Oct. 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

Japan’s Cabinet approved five-year anti-dumping duties of 3.6% to 42.1% on nickel stainless steel sheet from China and Taiwan, starting Oct. 31, 2026.<\/p>\n

The Cabinet acted on Oct. 27, 2026, through a Cabinet Order prepared by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)1<\/a><\/sup>. The order will be made public on Oct. 30, 2026, and the duty applies from Oct. 31, 2026, to Oct. 30, 20312<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

In short, flat stainless steel from China or Taiwan that contains nickel will keep paying an extra import tax in Japan for five more years. The rates stay exactly where the temporary duty set them in July.<\/p>\n

What is changing for stainless steel imports?<\/h2>\n

Since July 9, 2026, these goods have paid a provisional anti-dumping duty in Japan1<\/a><\/sup>. An anti-dumping duty is an extra import tax on goods sold abroad below their normal price. A provisional duty is a temporary one, charged while the investigation is still running.<\/p>\n

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Provisional duty and definitive duty<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Question<\/th>Provisional duty<\/th>Definitive duty<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Start<\/th>July 9, 2026<\/td>Oct. 31, 2026<\/td><\/tr>\n
End<\/th>Nov. 8, 2026<\/td>Oct. 30, 2031<\/td><\/tr>\n
Rates<\/th>3.6% to 42.1%<\/td>3.6% to 42.1%<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The temporary duty was set to run from July 9, 2026, to Nov. 8, 20263<\/a><\/sup>. The new Cabinet Order replaces it with a definitive anti-dumping duty<\/strong>, the final duty that ends the case1<\/a><\/sup>. The definitive duty runs from Oct. 31, 2026, to Oct. 30, 2031<\/strong>1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The rates do not change. The definitive rates are the same as the provisional rates, and they range from 3.6% to 42.1%<\/strong>2<\/a><\/sup>. For a buyer in Japan, the price gap between these imports and Japanese-made steel stays where it has been since July.<\/p>\n

The main change is time. A duty that was due to end in November now has a five-year life.<\/p>\n

Which stainless steel products does the duty cover?<\/h2>\n

The goods are nickel-added cold-rolled stainless steel coil, sheet and strip1<\/a><\/sup>. Put simply, these are thin, flat rolls and sheets of stainless steel made by rolling the metal at room temperature. The nickel inside them separates them from cheaper nickel-free grades.<\/p>\n

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What the duty covers<\/h4>\n
\n \n \n
Point<\/th>Rule<\/th><\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n
Goods<\/th>Cold-rolled stainless steel coil, sheet and strip<\/td><\/tr>\n
Chromium<\/th>10.5% or more<\/td><\/tr>\n
Nickel<\/th>More than 0.6% by weight<\/td><\/tr>\n
Size<\/th>Any thickness, width and shape<\/td><\/tr>\n
Left out<\/th>Plated, coated or clad steel, steel with holes<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The ministries define the product as an alloy steel with 10.5% or more chromium<\/strong> and more than 0.6% nickel<\/strong> by weight1<\/a><\/sup>. The METI release says the steel resists rust, keeps the strength of steel and gives a clean, attractive finish. It adds that the steel is used in a wide range of products1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Japan Customs lists the product’s scope in more detail on its page for the case4<\/a><\/sup>. The duty covers flat-rolled cold-rolled stainless steel with more than 0.6% nickel, whether or not it contains other elements4<\/a><\/sup>. It covers any thickness, width and shape4<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Which goods and places are left out?<\/h2>\n

Some stainless steel products fall outside the duty. Japan Customs excludes steel that is plated, coated or clad, meaning covered with a layer of another metal or material4<\/a><\/sup>. It also excludes steel with holes in its surface, even after final processing4<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The duty also has a geographic limit. It applies to goods from the People’s Republic of China, but not to goods from Hong Kong or Macao1<\/a><\/sup>. It also applies to goods from Taiwan, which Japan’s documents name as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu1<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The duty reaches goods "originating in or exported from" China and Taiwan1<\/a><\/sup>. So the order can catch steel made in those places and steel shipped from them.<\/p>\n

Which customs codes are affected?<\/h2>\n

Japan Customs lists eight product codes under the Harmonized System (HS), the international list of customs codes4<\/a><\/sup>. The codes are:<\/p>\n