The Korea Trade Commission (KTC) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held its 463rd KTC meeting on Thursday, August 28, 2025, to deliberate and resolve one anti-dumping investigation and four intellectual property (IP) infringement investigations related to exports and imports. The KTC also received a report on the initiation of a new anti-dumping investigation.
The deliberated anti-dumping case was launched in October 2024 against Chinese hot-rolled carbon and alloy steel plate imports. The KTC made a determination that dumped imports of these products caused material injury to the domestic industry. While calculating final anti-dumping duties at 27.91 to 34.10 percent for a five-year period, the KTC recommended that the Minister of Economy and Finance accept price undertakings proposed by nine Chinese exporters.
Like anti-dumping duties, price undertakings serve as a trade remedy for domestic industries. This protective measure allows exporters to voluntarily set an initial minimum export price and quarterly price adjustment methods, and if violated, anti-dumping duties may be imposed. For Chinese exporters that did not suggest price undertakings, the KTC decided to recommend a five-year anti-dumping duty of 34.10 percent to the Minister of Economy and Finance. Currently, provisional anti-dumping duties ranging from 27.91 to 38.02 percent are in effect for Chinese hot-rolled carbon and alloy steel plates (from April 24 to November 23, 2025).
Of the four IP infringement investigations, three were found to constitute unfair trade practices, with respondents determined to have infringed the applicants’ rights. These cases included investigations into interlayers for head-up displays (launched in September 2024), uninterruptible power supply systems (launched in October 2024), and designs for fishing clamps (launched in January 2025). The KTC imposed corrective measures, including orders to halt manufacturing and export of the infringing goods, exclusion from import, and fines.
Notably, the head-up display interlayer and uninterruptible power supply cases were investigations where the KTC adjudicated IP disputes between foreign companies, demonstrating the KTC’s potential to emerge as a global venue for IP dispute resolution. This reflects growing recognition of the KTC’s swift and impartial processes compared to traditional litigation.
Meanwhile, the investigation into infringement of standard essential patents for connected cars, launched in December 2024, was concluded after the parties reached a licensing agreement. As the investigation process helped clarify contentious issues between the parties, their negotiations accelerated, ultimately leading to withdrawal of the complaint and termination of the investigation.
The KTC also received a report on the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation into polyvinyl chloride paste resin from Germany, France, Norway, and Sweden.
The KTC will continue to systematically respond to the shifting global trade environment and address unfair trade practices, such as dumping and IP infringement.