The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a preliminary determination in its anti-dumping investigation into steel reinforcing bar imports from Vietnam. According to the decision, several Vietnamese steel producers could face very high temporary tariffs, reaching more than 130%.
According to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the DOC selected one Vietnamese company as the mandatory respondent in the investigation. In total, about ten affiliated companies are linked to this respondent, including subsidiaries of Hoa Phat Group such as Hoa Phat Hai Duong Steel, Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel, and Hoa Phat Hung Yen Steel.
Under the preliminary determination, the temporary anti-dumping duty rate for the mandatory respondent and its affiliated companies is 121.97%. Meanwhile, other Vietnamese steel exporters face tariffs of up to 130.77%.
The development comes as Vietnam’s exports of steel reinforcing bars to the United States have grown rapidly in recent years. In 2022, export volume was only about 43 tons, valued at roughly 43,000 USD. However, in 2023 exports surged to around 27,700 tons, worth approximately 16.8 million USD. By 2024, shipments increased further to about 56,400 tons, with a total value close to 30 million USD.
Compared with other countries under investigation, the preliminary tariff rate applied to Vietnam is significantly higher. Steel from Bulgaria faces a duty of around 52.8%, while products from Egypt are subject to tariffs ranging from 34.2% to 52.7%.
Earlier, the DOC also issued a preliminary determination in a countervailing duty investigation involving steel reinforcing bars imported from Vietnam, Algeria, and Egypt. In that case, the temporary subsidy duty imposed on Vietnamese companies was only 1.08%, significantly lower than the rates applied to Algeria (72.94%) and Egypt (29.51%).
Under DOC procedures, after issuing the preliminary determination the agency may send additional questionnaires and conduct on-site verification at the companies involved before making its final decision.
Trade experts say Vietnamese companies should closely cooperate with investigators, prepare detailed documentation, and seek advice from international legal experts to reduce potential risks in the final ruling. The case also highlights the need for Vietnam’s steel industry to diversify export markets and strengthen its capacity to respond to global trade defense measures as protectionism continues to rise worldwide.
