Russia has imposed a 19.4% antidumping duty on all bearing steel tubes from China, including Taiwan and China's special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macau.

The duties (officially, Decision 307 dated May 10, 2010 [5251R9N7]) go into effect on June 17, 2010, and will last for at least three years.

Russian steelmakers have experienced a significant drop in demand for every product, and domestic steelmakers hope to offset some of that weaker demand by eliminating import competition. Steel imports are particularly unpopular as Russian mills are running at approximately 65% capacity and imports are capturing an ever-larger portion of the market.

According to the Trade Ministry in Moscow, steel imported from China accounted for at least 13% of Russia's overall demand in 2009.

However, Russia's steelmakers and forging producers have come to rely on demand for their products in China; a larger problem will develop if China decides to retaliate with its own duties.

In February, Prime Minister Putin said he could not support protectionist moves, but strong pressure from Russian steelmakers lobbying the Trade Ministry helped sway his position. Also, domestic demand for all steel reportedly fell nearly 40% in 2009, despite government programs and intervention, giving a lift to protectionist attitudes.

Right up until the duty was officially announced, Russia's Trade Ministry declined it was even under consideration. The head of the Russian Fund for Pipemaking Industry, Alexander Deineko, said there is and has never been any intention to target steel tube for bearings, and that there was no antidumping investigation because the volume of bearing steel is too low.

Back in 2008, Russia investigated one of its own manufacturers for manipulating the price of bearing steel.

article: Russia investigates pricing abuse in bearing steel
Russia also has several other antidumping duty investigations ongoing involving steels of various types and grades, ironically including investigations into steel from the Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

In 2007, Russia hit most Chinese ball and roller bearing manufacturers with 41.5% dumping duties across the board for five years.

article: Russia hits Chinese bearings with dumping duties