Importing Steel from China to Vietnam: ACFTA/RCEP Rates and Anti-Dumping
Verified 2026-10-29 against Vietnam's tariff schedule (AHTN) and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) trade-remedy decisions. Vietnam is an RCEP and ASEAN–China (ACFTA) member — with a valid certificate of origin, most Chinese steel enters at preferential rates far below MFN. But since July 2025 a definitive anti-dumping duty of 23.10–27.83% applies to Chinese hot-rolled coils up to 1,880 mm wide, and an anti-circumvention duty of 27.83% now also covers wide coils (1,880–2,300 mm) from April 2026.
Import duty under AHTN (verified 2026-10-29)
| AHTN heading | Product group | MFN (ordinary) | ACFTA / RCEP with C/O |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7208 | Hot-rolled flat, non-alloy | 5–10% by line | 0–5% by line |
| 7209 | Cold-rolled flat | 5–10% | 0–5% |
| 7210 / 7212 | Coated flat | 5–15% | 0–5%; note Vietnam's own AD measures on coated steel from China on specific lines |
| 7213–7215 | Bars and rods | 5–10% | 0% |
| 7216 | Sections | 5–15% | 0–5% |
| 7225 / 7226 | Alloy flat — wear plate, high-strength plate, silicon steel | 5–10% (example verified line: 7208.39.20 ordinary 5% / preferential 0%) | 0% on most lines with valid C/O |
| 7303 / 7304 / 7306 | Tubes and pipes | 5–10% | 0–5% |
| 7308 | Steel structures | 10–15% | 0–5% |
Sources: Vietnam national tariff schedule (AHTN 2022–2027) as surfaced via national HS lookup tools; ACFTA and RCEP tariff annexes. The exact preferential rate depends on the 8-digit line and the specific FTA route (ACFTA Form AC vs RCEP C/O have different annex schedules) — we confirm per line before quoting.
Trade remedies affecting Chinese steel
| Measure | Scope | Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-dumping on Chinese hot-rolled flat steel — MOIT Decision 1959/QĐ-BCT (4 Jul 2025) | Hot-rolled coils ≤ 1,880 mm width, thickness 1.2–25.4 mm, carbon ≤ 0.30%, 27 AHTN lines (7208/7211/7225/7226); plate form and stainless excluded | 23.10% – 27.83% ad valorem by producer; non-cooperative traders 27.83% | Definitive — in force 2025-07-06 for five years; Baosteel's request for a mid-term review of its 27.83% rate is under MOIT investigation (initiated Jul 2026) |
| Anti-circumvention duty — MOIT Decision 612/QĐ-BCT (2 Apr 2026) | Wide-width Chinese HRC 1,880–2,300 mm (24 HS codes) — the width band exporters shifted into to escape AD20 | 27.83% | Provisional, effective 2026-04-17 for 120 days while final findings are prepared; additive to the AD duty — combined burden roughly 50–55% on wide coils |
| Anti-dumping on coated steel from China (earlier cases) | Selected 7210 lines (galvanised/colour-coated) | Varies by case | In force on specific lines; check the exact AHTN line |
Practical read: the ACFTA 0% headline rate is real but incomplete. For hot-rolled base material inside the AD scope, up to 27.83% lands on top of the (possibly 0%) duty. For wear plate and high-strength plate — including Baosteel NM400–NM500 and BS/Q grades — QT heat-treated plate is typically excluded (plate form, higher carbon, alloy classification), but the line-by-line check with Vietnamese customs practice is essential before quoting, and the anti-circumvention measure shows MOIT is watching width and specification workarounds closely.
Other import charges
| Charge | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 0–10% per above | preferential requires valid C/O (ACFTA Form AC or RCEP) |
| VAT | 10% | standard rate maintained by Decree 174/2025/NĐ-CP |
| Anti-dumping (where applicable) | 23.10–27.83% | Decision 1959/QĐ-BCT, on top of duty, five-year duration |
| Anti-circumvention (wide coils) | 27.83% | Decision 612/QĐ-BCT, provisional from 2026-04-17; additive to AD |
Getting the preferential rate: origin documentation
- C/O form AC (ASEAN–China FTA) or RCEP certificate of origin — issued by China CCPIT or China Customs at export. Without one of these, Vietnam applies MFN.
- Vietnamese customs scrutinise ACFTA C/Os on steel more heavily since 2024–2025 anti-transshipment enforcement — the C/O must match the exact HS line on the invoice.
- Mill test certificate per heat remains standard practice for Vietnamese mills' downstream customers.
Official sources for this page
- MOIT Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam — anti-dumping decisions on steel (moit.gov.vn)
- Vietnam General Department of Customs — AHTN tariff schedule and preferential rates
- ACFTA and RCEP tariff annexes (Form AC / RCEP certificates of origin)
Decision references for each row are maintained with our Vietnamese customs partner; portal links let you re-verify every figure at the source.
Change log — what moved, and when
| Date | Change (source: MOIT / TRAV) |
|---|---|
| 2026-04-17 | Provisional anti-circumvention duty of 27.83% effective on Chinese wide-width HRC (1,880–2,300 mm), Decision 612/QĐ-BCT — additive to the AD duty. |
| 2025-07-06 | Definitive anti-dumping in force on Chinese HRC ≤1,880 mm: 23.10–27.83% by producer, five-year duration (Decision 1959/QĐ-BCT). Price undertaking proposed by CISA rejected (Decision 1958/QĐ-BCT). |
| 2025-02 | Provisional anti-dumping on the same product (19.38–27.83%) — superseded by the July 2025 definitive determination. |
Vietnam steel tariff FAQ
Is Chinese steel really duty-free into Vietnam?
With a valid ACFTA or RCEP certificate of origin, most steel lines enter at 0–5%, and many alloy flat lines are 0%. Without the C/O, the MFN rate of roughly 5–15% applies. The C/O is the difference — never ship without it.
Does the anti-dumping duty apply on top of the FTA rate?
Yes. Trade remedy duties are independent of FTA preferences. If your product line falls in the MOIT measure on Chinese hot-rolled flat steel (Decision 1959/QĐ-BCT), 23.10–27.83% is added to the (possibly 0%) duty, and wide coils caught by the anti-circumvention measure face a further 27.83%. Whether your exact plate product is inside the scope is a classification question we check per order.
Which is better for steel: ACFTA or RCEP?
For most steel lines ACFTA (Form AC) reaches 0% earlier and is the route Vietnamese importers know best. Some lines are lower under RCEP. We compare both annexes for the exact 8-digit line and ship with whichever is lower.
How fresh is this Vietnam page?
Verified 2026-10-29. The anti-dumping duty is definitive (in force since July 2025, five-year duration); Baosteel has requested a mid-term review of its 27.83% rate, with a final determination expected within six months of the July 2026 initiation. We track the review outcome and update this page when MOIT rules.
Источники и проверка
- 1TRAV — Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (MOIT anti-dumping / anti-circumvention decisions)
- 2General Department of Vietnam Customs
- 3WTO Tariff Download Facility
Цифры на этой странице проверены 2026-10-29 по официальным источникам, указанным ниже. Данные пересматриваются и проверяются ежемесячно; даты проверки указаны на этой странице.
