Govt slaps duty on steel

JAKARTA (JP): The government has slapped anti-dumping duties of up to 62 percent on I-shaped and H-shaped steel pieces from Russia and Poland, according to a decree of the finance minister.

The decree, issued by Finance Minister Bambang Subianto on Jan. 18, says products from Russian steel manufacturers including Niznhy Tagil Iron & Steel Works are subject to 62 percent import duties.

The government is imposing a 19 percent import duty on the steel products of Polish companies like Huta Katowice.

The duties are effective until "final determination", the decree says.

The import duty was proposed by PT Gunung Garuda, producers of both I- and H-shaped steel products, which charged that Polish and Russian companies sold their products in Indonesia at much lower prices, threatening local business. (das)