Colour Coated Steel From China: NTC Finds Dumping but Sets No Provisional Duty in Pakistan
The NTC found dumping in colour coated steel from China but set no provisional duty. See the margins, covered customs codes and dates before the final decision.
Short answer: The National Tariff Commission (NTC) found, on a preliminary basis, that colour coated steel coils and sheets from China are being dumped in Pakistan and are hurting local industry. It did not impose a provisional duty. A final decision normally comes within 180 days of the notice being published. Importers should plan for a duty.
The notice is dated 27 September 2026 and sits on the NTC website. It is a middle step in a case that began in April, so nothing is charged yet and nothing is final.
The NTC found dumping and injury on a preliminary basis
On a preliminary basis the NTC found dumping from one Chinese exporter group and material injury to the domestic industry. The case started on 25 April 2026 after an application from International Steels Limited, Karachi. The investigation is under Section 23 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015.
The NTC says injury shows in a rise in the volume of dumped imports, price undercutting, price depression and price suppression. It also lists falling sales, market share, profits and cash flow among the harm to local makers.
Dumping margins differ for each exporter
A dumping margin is how much lower the export price is than the normal price. The NTC calculated them for two cooperating exporters. One margin was negative, which means no dumping was found for that exporter. All other Chinese exporters get the residual margin.
| Exporter | Margin on export price | Margin on C&F price |
|---|---|---|
| Qingdao Honesteel Metal Co. (exporter of Shandong Boxing Huaye Industry and Trade Co.) | 11.03 per cent | 7.83 per cent |
| Zhejiang Huada New Materials Co. | minus 1.68 per cent | minus 1.38 per cent |
| All other Chinese exporters and producers | 11.03 per cent | 7.83 per cent |
C&F means cost and freight, the price including sea freight. A margin is not the duty rate. The NTC sets the duty in its final decision, and we cannot say what the final rate will be.
No provisional duty is charged for now
The NTC decided that provisional anti-dumping duties are not necessary to prevent injury while the case continues, under Section 43 of the Act. So on today's papers, nothing extra is collected on these imports. That can change at the final determination.
Importers who stock up now should know the risk. A final duty applies from its own date, and the NTC notice does not promise any back date. Read the final notice when it comes.
The notice also says a non-confidential version of the detailed report is placed in the Public File the NTC maintains, and on its website. That report lets an importer see how the margins were worked out, so read it before you plan a final price.
Which products and customs codes are covered
The product is pre-painted, painted, colour coated or organic coated flat steel, in coils or sheets, including profiled sheets such as trapezoidal and corrugated. It excludes PCM and VCM grades. The NTC lists the codes below under the Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT).
- 7210.7020
- 7210.7090
- 7210.9010
- 7210.9090
- 7212.4010
- 7212.4090
Check your goods declaration against these codes. Our explainer on how to check anti-dumping duty on an import shows where to read a notice for the exact scope.
Dates to watch before the final decision
A party registered as interested in the case may request a hearing within 30 days of publication of the notice. The final determination is normally made within 180 days of publication of the preliminary notice. Counting from 27 September 2026, 180 days ends around 26 March 2027.
| Step | Date or period |
|---|---|
| Investigation started | 25 April 2026 |
| Preliminary notice dated | 27 September 2026 |
| Hearing requests | Within 30 days of publication |
| Final determination | Normally within 180 days of publication |
The 180 days run from the date of publication, which may be later than the date printed on the notice, so the end date could shift. Hearing requests go to the Secretary, National Tariff Commission, in Islamabad. The notice gives the email secretary@ntc.gov.pk.
What buyers can do while the case is open
Buyers can price a possible duty into quotes and ask suppliers whether they are one of the named exporters. They can also keep the case number, ADC No. 73/2026/NTC/CCCS, with their file. Ask your supplier in writing which producer made the coils, because the preliminary margins name producers and exporters separately. The case sits alongside rules like the industrial policy tariff cuts, so plan for both.
Common questions about the colour coated steel case
Is anti-dumping duty being charged on colour coated steel now?
No. The NTC said provisional duties are not necessary at this stage, so no extra duty is collected under this case until a final decision.
Which country does the case cover?
Only goods originating in or exported from the People's Republic of China.
Who asked for the investigation?
International Steels Limited, Karachi, filed the application, according to the NTC notice.
Can the final duty be higher than the preliminary margin?
We cannot say. The notice sets margins on a preliminary basis and the final determination may change them after hearings and more data.
Where can I read the full report?
The NTC says a non-confidential version is in its public file and on ntc.gov.pk. We read only the notice and not the full report.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 11 October 2026. We read the NTC Notice of Preliminary Determination, ADC No. 73/2026/NTC/CCCS, dated 27 September 2026, on ntc.gov.pk. The detailed preliminary report listed on the NTC home page was not read. The date of publication in the Gazette was not stated, so the end of the 180 day period is an estimate.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
