<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian government has quietly imposed </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/tariffs" rel="" target="_blank" title="tariffs "><span>tariffs</span></a><span> on some </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="_blank" title="Chinese "><span>Chinese</span></a><span> steel products, risking retaliation from the emerging superpower.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ceiling frames imported from China will be slapped with a 10 per cent tariff, the Department of Industry has confirmed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The levy follows an inquiry by the Anti-Dumping Commission that found local manufacturers were being unfairly undercut and the products received government subsidies.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>HAPPENING NOW:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/israeli-president-visit-to-australia-huge-protests-expected/40b56f1b-3d34-4f03-bf25-282d4937abb0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Israeli president arrives in Australia under heavy security</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last month, Treasurer </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/capital-gains-tax-discount-australia-speculation-overhaul-federal-budget-2026/1fcd9f5b-370a-4045-a4c3-c00c4dbec466" rel="" target="_blank" title=" Jim Chalmers"><span>Jim Chalmers</span></a><span> requested the Productivity Commission carry out an urgent inquiry into the effect of structural steel imports on the local market.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian steel fabricators, commonly small to medium-sized businesses, told the investigation a flood of cheap imported products were leaving them uncompetitive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Industry Minister Tim Ayres said the government was standing up for Australian businesses in support of free and fair trade.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-imposes-tariffs-on-chinese-steel-imports/c768c50d-2000-4e07-a160-c78e680ee310" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is because Australia's prosperity is linked to open and rules-based trade – one in four Australian jobs depend on trade," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When trade is not fair, the government will stand up for Australian farmers, manufacturers and workers."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This includes applying measures at the border to address unfair imports."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China's sluggish </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/building" rel="" target="_blank" title="construction sector"><span>construction sector</span></a><span> has led to a glut of steel made there, triggering a flood of shipments to overseas markets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to Commonwealth Bank of Australia analysis, Chinese crude steel output fell by 4.4 per cent last year – marking the largest annual fall since the data began in 1990.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While heavy US tariffs have deterred Chinese steel importers, other markets, including Australia, became export targets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The move by Australia was in addition to temporary tariffs ranging form 35 per cent and 113 per cent on steel products, which started last December.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dumping, defined by the World Trade Organisation, is a form of price discrimination, involving selling a product in the importing country at less than the price in the market where it is made.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The latest tariffs come after warmer trade relations between Canberra and Beijing since the 2022 election victory of the Albanese government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It followed years of bitter trade disputes under the former Morrison government when bilateral relations chilled over suspicions of Chinese interference in Australia increased.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>China also hit out at Australia's call for an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations it was seeking to intimidate members of the Chinese-Australian community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>