Japan's Ministry of Finance issued a public notice on October 31, 2026, making a final affirmative anti-dumping determination on cold-rolled stainless steel flat-rolled products (Japanese product name: 冷間圧延をしたステンレス鋼のフラットロール製品) originating in mainland China and the Taiwan region of China. The duty runs for five years: 27.7-42.1% for mainland Chinese producers and 3.6-20.1% for producers in the Taiwan region, effective October 31, 2026 to October 30, 2031 (Sources: Japan MOF and METI notices, China Trade Remedy Information). The covered Japanese tariff lines are 7219.31, 7219.32, 7219.33, 7219.34, 7219.35, 7219.90, 7220.20 and 7220.90.
The case began with an investigation opened on July 22, 2025, followed by an affirmative preliminary determination on June 19, 2026 and a four-month provisional duty from July 9, 2026 that was due to expire on November 8. Because the final measure takes effect on October 31 and rolls straight over from the provisional duty, there is no gap after November 8. Quotes built on the provisional rate must be recalculated at the final rate, and contracts already signed should be reviewed with the Japanese buyer now so that duty allocation does not become a dispute at destination.
Classification and declaration are the most commonly overlooked step. The scope covers cold-rolled flat-rolled stainless products, both coil and cut-to-length sheet: 7219.31 to 7219.35 split by thickness, 7219.90 for other cases, and 7220.20 and 7220.90 for strip and sheet under 600 mm in width. Declarations must state the grade (austenitic or not, nickel-bearing or not), the processing method (cold-rolled), thickness, width and whether the goods are coil. Filing under a generic description such as stainless steel sheet invites assessment at the top rate, and challenging that later is expensive.
Three further points matter in practice. First, origin is decided under the rules of origin: simple transshipment or repacking in a third country does not change origin, and Japanese anti-circumvention scrutiny has tightened markedly in recent years. Second, the applicable rate differs by exporter — company-specific rates coexist with an all-others rate — so the exporter named on the invoice and certificate of origin must match the entity to which the rate applies. Third, alternatives are limited: the Taiwan region of China is covered too, and switching to hot-rolled or galvanized grades brings its own expiry dates to track. Confirm actual expiry against the latest MOF notices.
We handle China-Japan steel ocean freight and breakbulk shipments year-round, and can help verify HS classification, assemble declaration data, match Kanto and Kansai sailings and arrange delivery in Japan. Use the rate calculator and tracking buttons below, or click sales@ruixincargo.com to send product name, specification, grade and quantity for an FCL, LCL and door-to-door comparison with a cost range; call 400-6519-886 to speak with our team, or reach us through the online consultation (Ruiyutong) for an immediate reply.