On July 22, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Ministry of Finance announced that they would launch an anti-dumping (AD) investigation on cold-rolled stainless steel flat-rolled product imports from China and Taiwan.

The probe was launched based on complaints from four domestic producers, including Nippon Steel Corporation, Nippon Yakin Kogyo Co., Ltd., NAS Stainless Steel Strip MFG. Co., Ltd., and Nippon Kinzoku Co., Ltd. These companies alleged that Chinese products were sold in Japan at prices 20% to 50% lower than the local prices, while Taiwanese products were 3% to 20% cheaper.

Japanese producers claimed these unfairly priced imports forced them to reduce their own prices, leading to reduced operating profits.

The investigation is expected to conclude within one year.

The products involved are nickel-based cold-rolled stainless steel coils, sheets, and strips, under HS codes 7219.31, 7219.32, 7219.33, 7219.34, 7219.35, 7219.90, 7220.20, and 7220.90.