Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

The Korea Trade Commission (KTC) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) held the 459th KTC meeting today for deliberation and resolution on six agenda items.

First, the KTC decided to propose the levying of anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese cold-rolled stainless steel products, giving a final determination based on investigation findings that the dumped imports have caused material injury to the domestic industries. The KTC will be suggesting a five-year anti-dumping duty of between 11.37% and 18.81% to Korea’s minister of economy and finance.

With regard to sodium dithionite from China and particle board from Thailand, the KTC determined based on preliminary investigations a cause-and-effect relation between the dumped imports and injury on domestic industries. Accordingly, the KTC will be proposing provisional anti-dumping duties of between 15.15% and 33.97% on Chinese sodium dithionite products and between 11.82% and 17.19% on Thai particle board to Korea’s minister of economy and finance as a preventive measure during the main investigation period.

Addressing investigations on the alleged infringement of a toner cartridge patent and mango jelly copyright, the KTC ruled that the respondents have not violated claimants’ rights and thereby have not committed acts of unfair trade practice. Concerning investigations on the alleged infringement of tent and sleeping bag trademark, the KTC decided to accept both parties’ request for suspension of investigations and closed the case.

The KTC also received a report on the roll-out of investigations on an interim review of Chinese polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. Chinese PET film was levied a five-year (May 2023–May 2028) anti-dumping duty of between 2.2% and 36.98% in May 2023, but the recent rise in import shipments and lowered import unit price led to four Korean firms requesting an interim review on Chinese firms Tianjin Wanhua and Kanghui New Material Technology based on allegations of an increased dumping rate in 2024 compared to that of the anti-dumping investigation period in 2021. Should the KTC’s investigation findings over the next six months confirm an increased dumping rate, the KTC can propose to the Korean economy and finance minister that a revised dumping rate be imposed until the anti-dumping duty expires in 2028.

Meanwhile, the KTC held a public hearing on the same day on domestic industry’s injury from imports of Chinese stainless steel plates, for which investigations were initiated in September 2024, to grant interested parties sufficient opportunity to make statements and ensure their rights of defense. The said products are currently subject to a provisional anti-dumping duty of 21.6% and await a final determination in the first half of this year following domestic and overseas due diligence procedures.