Japan imposed provisional anti-dumping (AD) duties of 29.2% to 55.3% on hot-dip galvanised steel coil, sheet, and strip imported from China and South Korea, effective August 8, 2026, through December 7, 2026. 

The measure, announced Tuesday by Japan's trade and finance ministries, aims to protect domestic steelmakers from underpriced imports, though products from Hong Kong and Macau are exempt. 

These corrosion-resistant steel products are widely used in construction, such as guardrails, houses and fences, as well as in appliances like refrigerators. 

The action follows a year-long probe triggered by an April 2025 petition from Nippon Steel, Kobe Steel, and Yodoko, which argued that cheap imports had squeezed their pricing.