Position of the Interagency Commission on International Trade (ICIT) and the essence of the investigations
On March 10, the Interagency Commission on International Trade (ICIT) initiated two anti-dumping investigations into imports from China and Turkey. This is not an isolated procedure — it is a formal determination of whether foreign suppliers are selling products at prices that undermine Ukrainian manufacturers.
"The Interagency Commission on International Trade on March 10 launched new anti-dumping investigations into the import into Ukraine of industrial goods from China and Turkey."
— Announcement on the "Uryadovyi Kurier" website, ICIT
Who filed the complaints and what are the allegations
Inverter welding machines and plasma cutters from China — an initiative of the company Paton International. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih filed a complaint regarding imports of steel rods and angles from Turkey.
"According to the complainant, volumes of imports of Chinese welding equipment for 2022–2024 increased by 64% in absolute terms. The average prices of such imports were significantly lower than the production cost of the domestic manufacturer."
— Complaint from Paton International, documents submitted to the ICIT
Why this matters for Ukraine
Protecting production: low import prices can hinder the recovery and modernization of domestic enterprises, reduce jobs and undermine production chains important for rebuilding infrastructure and the defense industry.
Logistics and prices: if the investigation confirms dumping and additional duties are imposed, imports will become more expensive — this will affect the cost of construction, repairs and other sectors that use these goods.
Macroeconomic backdrop: by the end of 2025, Ukraine's foreign trade turnover amounted to $125.1 billion, imports — $84.8 billion, exports — $40.3 billion. The record negative trade balance amplifies risks for industry and makes the issue of protecting the domestic market more sensitive.
Possible consequences and trade-offs
- If the ICIT establishes dumping — an instrumented response is possible in the form of additional duties or anti-dumping charges. Consequence: imports will become more expensive.
- In the short term this may put pressure on construction and repair costs; in the long term — support the recovery of Ukrainian manufacturers and the preservation of jobs.
- The key task for authorities is to find a balance: protect producers, but not strangle end consumers and sectors that depend on imported components.
What’s next
The investigation is being conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture. Its conclusions will determine whether duties are introduced, and in what form — temporary or permanent, differentiated or general. Experts note: the effect of measures will depend on the scale of import flows and the ability of domestic enterprises to increase output.
This issue is not only about prices — it is about the industrial resilience of the country. Whether government decisions can combine protection of enterprises with access to key materials will be shown in the next stage of the investigations and the market's reaction.
"If the anti-dumping investigation confirms a violation, Ukraine may impose additional duties on imports — the respective products will become more expensive, but domestic production will get a chance to revive."
— Conclusions of ICIT documents and statements from the complainants
