FERROUS
53recyclinginternational.com | July/August | 2023
which were previously reachable for
Turkish long steel products now
enjoyed greater competition. Alff also
said that China’s tightening of its con-
trols on overcapacity was likely to have
a significant effect on market dynam-
ics, resulting in decreased steel output
which would in turn support prices.
However, he added this would depend
on how strictly the controls were
implemented.
UKRAINE RELIEF
The European Council has renewed
the regulation suspending all customs
duties, quotas and trade defence
measures on Ukrainian exports to the
EU for another year. The regulation
was adopted in June last year and
now runs until June 2024. The renewal
will help Ukraine to maintain the sta-
bility of its trade relations with the EU
and to keep its economy going under
the current war circumstances.
TACKLING FRAUD
The European Antifraud Office (OLAF) has set out how it is tackling the imports of metal
products which are systematically being given incorrect codes by importers to avoid anti-
dumping duties. OLAF’s annual report tells of ‘an ongoing cooperation’ with the European
steel association (Eurofer), the European bicycles industry and the EU aluminium household
foil industry to protect their industries.
‘For several years now, OLAF has carried out investigations regarding the evasion of anti-
dumping and countervailing duties applicable on imports of aluminium household foil origi-
nating from China.’ Inquiries of several Thai companies in late 2022 confirmed insufficient
production of foil in Thailand to justify Thai origin being attached to the products. The mis-
identification was to avoid the payment of the duties for such goods almost certainly origi-
nating from China.
A comparable situation concerned the import of stainless steel pipes claimed to originate
from South Korea. In the third case, sources tipped off OLAF in 2019 about a suspicious
consignment of steel on its way to an EU port. OLAF alerted the relevant custom authori-
ties who confirmed the steel was of an inferior quality than that declared on the import
documents and was therefore meant to attract 73.3% anti-dumping duties.
The report goes on: ‘The import document also stated that the steel was coated in a paint
that prevented rust and corrosion. However, following chemical analysis, this declaration
turned out not to be true as only a simple layer of varnish had been applied to the steel.’
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