South Korea's Customs Service is initiating inspections of alleged disguised imports of Chinese hot-rolled thick steel plates through the end of July. This action addresses suspicions that Chinese companies are mislabeling thick steel plates as colored plates to circumvent anti-dumping (AD) duties.

The Customs Service stated it is conducting intensive inspections after discovering some importers are adding paint or metal coatings to thick steel plates, then declaring them as color steel plates to evade tariffs. In one instance, Incheon Customs identified two companies importing color steel plates that were, in fact, thick steel plates subject to AD duties.

According to Commissioner Ko Kwang-hyo, this evasion weakens South Korea’s trade relief measures. Provisional AD duties ranging from 27.91% to 38.02% have been in effect on Chinese thick steel plates since April. The Customs Service plans further actions against disguised imports of various goods.