Chile opens an anti-dumping investigation into steel wire rod from China

On 4 August 2026, the Comisión Nacional de Distorsiones de Precios, the Chilean authority responsible for unfair trade practices, opened an anti-dumping investigation targeting steel wire rod originating in China.

The complaint was lodged by CAP Acero, the country's leading steelmaker, which puts the dumping margin found at 41.2% and is seeking an anti-dumping duty of a similar order. Chile and China have a free trade agreement that normally allows Chinese steel to enter duty-free, subject to a certificate of origin; if successful, this investigation would open up the first real tariff restriction on a category that currently circulates almost freely.

At this stage, no provisional duty has been announced: the investigation is proceeding, with a preliminary determination and then a final decision expected in the coming months, in line with the usual timetable for Chilean anti-dumping procedures.

Importers of Chinese steel wire rod, or of products derived from it, such as construction items, hardware or drawn wire, should expect price uncertainty on this tariff line until the final decision, which may apply retroactively to certain imports depending on the outcome of the procedure.