Triple Trade Barriers for Chinese Galvanized Steel: Japan, South Korea, and Turkey Impose Restrictions
June 19, 2026 - According to Mysteel and multiple trade agencies, a rare wave of "triple trade barriers" has emerged since early June 2026, as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey have successively implemented trade restriction measures against Chinese cold-rolled coils and galvanized products. This development signals an impending restructuring of the global cold-rolled and galvanized steel trade landscape.
Turkey: The Ministry of Trade issued a final ruling, imposing anti-dumping duties ranging from 22.37% to 32.40% on Chinese-origin cold-rolled steel plates, galvanized steel plates, and color-coated plates. With a validity period of five years, these duties-when combined with existing base import tariffs-effectively eliminate the price competitiveness of standard domestic steel plates in the Turkish market.
South Korea: Effective June 12, provisional anti-dumping duties of up to 33.67% were imposed on Chinese-origin galvanized cold-rolled steel for a period of four months. The scope covers galvanized sheets used in the photovoltaic and construction sectors.
Japan: Authorities have initiated an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese cold-rolled coils, further raising market access thresholds in East Asia.
Customs data indicates that Japan, South Korea, and Turkey have long been core export destinations for China's cold-rolled and coated steel products. The implementation of these trade barriers will directly squeeze the export share of low-end cold-rolled series products, compelling domestic steel enterprises to accelerate adjustments to their export strategies and product structures, shifting focus toward high-end varieties and emerging markets.
In domestic industry news, Jingye Group recently announced the stable mass production of high-strength IF steel for thick hot-dip galvanized plates, while Baotou Steel's galvanized products have successfully entered the supply chain of a leading international chemical enterprise. However, affected by the summer off-season, downstream orders for domestic galvanized coils remained weak in June, with prices maintaining a trend of volatile consolidation.