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Taiwan ban on China steel may hurt trade flow

American Metal Market: A potential ban on Chinese steel imports by Taiwan could disrupt trade flows in Asia, with the stainless steel segment set to be hardest hit, market sources told Metal Bulletin this week. “The ban is necessary so that Taiwan can start negotiations with the United States to be exempted from the [country’s] Section 232 tariffs [on steel and aluminum imports],” a Taiwanese trader said.

Several industry sources in Asia believe Taiwan’s ban – if it materializes – would apply to cargoes meant for domestic consumption in the island as well as those meant for processing before being subsequently exported to other destinations.

No official announcement has been published but several sources in Taiwan said government officials had reached out to them over the implementation of such a move.