Anti-dumping duties on nickel-based stainless cold-rolled strip from China and Taiwan, for five years from October 31An extra tax on imports sold too cheaply, for five years from October 31
On October 27, 2026 (Reiwa 8), the Ministry of Finance announced its decision to impose anti-dumping duties of 3.6% to 42.1% on nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled strip and sheet originating in the People's Republic of China and in the separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. The duties run for five years, from October 31, 2026 to October 30, 2031, at the same rates as the provisional measure in force since July 9. Companies importing these materials will need to review their purchase costs.
- July 22, 2025 (Reiwa 7)The investigation opened
- July 9, 2026 (Reiwa 8)Provisional anti-dumping duties of 3.6% to 42.1% began
- October 19, 2026The council's report was submitted
- October 27, 2026The decision to impose duties was announced
- October 30, 2026The cabinet order is promulgated
- October 31, 2026Duties begin, running five years to October 30, 2031
Key points
- The goods covered are nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled strip and sheet originating in the People's Republic of China and in the separate customs territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu
- The duty rates are 3.6% to 42.1%, the same rates as the provisional anti-dumping duties imposed from July 9, 2026 (Reiwa 8)
- The duties apply from October 31, 2026 (Reiwa 8) to October 30, 2031 (Reiwa 13), a period of five years. The cabinet order is to be promulgated on October 30, 2026
- Background: the investigation opened on July 22, 2025 (Reiwa 7); the report of the Council on Customs, Tariff, Foreign Exchange and Other Transactions was submitted on October 19, 2026. The investigation found imports of dumped goods, material injury to the domestic industry, and a need to protect that industry
- Anti-dumping duties are additional duties imposed where imports of goods sold at an export price below normal value cause injury to a domestic industry. The mechanism is recognized, subject to certain disciplines, under World Trade Organization agreements
What to do in practice
- Check with your supplier and your customs documents whether the origin and item of the stainless material you buy fall within the scope
- If it does fall within scope, estimate the duty on imports from October 31 onward and consider how to reflect it in costing and selling prices
- Rates range from 3.6% to 42.1%, so confirm through customs procedures which rate applies to your imports
If a company abroad sells goods to Japan at a price far below what it charges at home, companies in Japan making the same goods lose their customers no matter how hard they try. In such cases the government can place an extra tax on those imports. On October 27 the Ministry of Finance decided to place an extra tax of 3.6% to 42.1% on nickel-based stainless steel sheet coming from China and Taiwan.
Points
- The extra tax applies for five years, from October 31, 2026 to October 30, 2031
- The rate is 3.6% to 42.1%, the same rate as the temporary tax that started on July 9
- The investigation began on July 22, 2025. It found that companies in Japan making the same goods were genuinely being harmed
What the words mean
- Customs duty
- A tax paid to the government when goods bought abroad are brought into the country
- Anti-dumping duty
- An extra tax placed on imports that were sold at too low a price
- Cabinet order
- A rule decided by the cabinet that fills in the details of a law
- Ministry of Finance: Ministry of Finance, Decision to impose anti-dumping duties on nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled strip and sheet
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.