Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and Finance Ministry announced on June 1, 2026, the start of anti-dumping investigations into imports of hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil, sheet, and strip steel from China, South Korea, and Taiwan [1, 2, 3, 4]. The probes respond to allegations by major Japanese steel producers Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Kobe Steel, and Nakayama Steel Works that these imports were sold at prices up to 50% below normal value, harming Japan's domestic steel industry [1, 2, 3, 5, 4, 6, 7].
The products under investigation are widely used in sectors including automobiles, machinery, consumer goods, packaging, home appliances, and construction [1, 2, 3, 5, 4, 6, 7]. Imported volumes have risen from about 1.23 million tonnes in 2021 to over 1.43 million tonnes in the latest 12-month period ending September 2025 [2]. Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, Kobe Steel, and Nakayama Steel Works filed applications for the investigations in February 2026, with the probe expected to conclude within about one year [1, 3, 4, 6, 7].
Japan's steel industry is under pressure from overcapacity and declining domestic demand, which has fallen to approximately 60 million tonnes annually despite producing 80 to 100 million tonnes of crude steel each year [7]. Masayuki Hirose, chairman of the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, said, "In Japan as well, the need for appropriate trade remedy measures has become increasingly urgent" [1]. Hirose also said the industry will strengthen supervision of unfair steel imports and work with the government on further measures [5].
The investigation follows similar anti-dumping actions worldwide. Australia imposed tariffs up to 82% on hot-rolled coil steel from China in early May 2026, and Turkey enacted a 3.95% duty on certain Chinese steel products in December 2025 [1, 3, 4]. China, as the world's largest steel producer, has increased exports amid weakening domestic demand, prompting trade pushback across Asia, Europe, and Latin America [1, 2, 3, 5].
Taiwan's major steelmaker, China Steel Corporation, said it intends to actively respond through legal channels and customer engagement, with Japan accounting for 700,000 to 900,000 tonnes of its exports annually [7]. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs is providing consultation and legal support to steelmakers facing Japan's probe [8].
Japan will request related companies and importers in Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan to submit data as the investigation progresses [6]. A final determination on anti-dumping duties is expected within the one-year timeline set by the ministries [1, 5, 4, 6].
