S. Korea appeals WTO's ruling on its 15.39% anti-dumping tariffs on Japanese steel

South Korea appealed the World Trade Organization's (WTO) ruling that it partially violated rules in slapping anti-dumping 15.39 percent tariffs on Japanese stainless steel bars since July 2004

The appeal was made nearly two months after a WTO panel issued a report calling on South Korea to fulfill its obligations under the anti-dumping agreement.

South Korea has been imposing tariffs on steel bars not only from Japanese companies, such as Sanyo, Daido, and Aichi, but also from India and Spain.

Japan filed complaints against South Korea in 2018, claiming that the anti-dumping tariffs were unreasonable as its products do not directly compete with South Korean goods as they are different in nature.

Stainless steel bars are used in auto parts, construction materials, medical instruments, and other industrial goods.