Importing Articles of iron or steel from China into Australia (2026)

Chinese Chapter 73 steel articles attract both ChAFTA preferential tariff eligibility and active anti-dumping or countervailing measures on specific product lines such as hollow structural sections and reinforcing bar, meaning a valid ChAFTA Certificate of Origin alone does not override applicable anti-dumping duties — both obligations must be assessed independently before lodging the import declaration.

✓ FTA Active: ChAFTAHS Chapter 73

Free Trade Agreement

China-Australia Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 73 goods originating in China may qualify for preferential duty rates under ChAFTA. Goods must meet the rules of origin and be accompanied by a valid certificate of origin.

View ChAFTA rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Search the Anti-Dumping Commission register by specific HS code before each shipment to identify current Chinese steel measures.
⚠Obtain a valid ChAFTA Certificate of Origin from the Chinese exporter prior to arrival to claim preferential tariff rates.
⚠Ensure all wooden packaging and dunnage is ISPM 15 certified to avoid costly biosecurity intervention at Australian ports.
⚠Australia has active anti-dumping and countervailing measures on steel products from multiple countries including China, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before every shipment as duty rates can be substantial and change without notice
⚠Structural steel products (e.g. RHS, SHS, beams) used in buildings must comply with Australian Standard AS/NZS 3678 or 3679; ABF and state building authorities may request mill certificates to confirm compliance, and non-conforming steel has been subject to border intervention
⚠Timber dunnage, packing straw or wooden crating used to protect steel goods must meet DAFF biosecurity requirements and be ISPM 15 heat-treated or fumigated — contaminated packing has caused costly delays and treatment orders at Australian ports
⚠Steel pressure vessels and gas cylinders may require approval under state/territory work health and safety legislation and must comply with AS 1210 or equivalent before use — customs clearance does not satisfy these downstream regulatory requirements
⚠Steel wire and fencing products containing soil or plant residue from overseas agricultural use are a biosecurity risk — DAFF officers regularly inspect and may order treatment or destruction; ensure goods are clean and free of organic matter prior to export
⚠A valid ChAFTA Certificate of Origin (or origin declaration by approved exporter) is required to claim preferential tariff rates under ChAFTA, and must be presented to the ABF at time of entry
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duties apply to a range of Chinese goods including steel reinforcing bar, hollow structural sections, aluminium extrusions and A4 copy paper - importers must check the Anti-Dumping Commission register before clearing goods
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulatory arrangements and meet mandatory EESS (Electrical Equipment Safety System) registration requirements before sale in Australia
⚠Biosecurity declarations are mandatory for goods containing or made from timber, bamboo, plant materials or organic packing material, with DAFF inspections and possible treatment orders applying at the Australian border

Key documents required

commercial invoice with full product description including steel grade, dimensions and country of origin (mill origin, not just country of export)
mill test certificates (MTC) confirming chemical composition and mechanical properties to relevant AS/NZS standards
bill of lading or sea waybill with accurate goods description
certificate of origin (preferential CO for FTA duty claims, e.g. Form E for ChAFTA or back-to-back CO for AANZFTA)
anti-dumping statutory declaration or importer's declaration confirming exporter details where ABF requests verification under active measures

Import tip

Always obtain the overseas mill's test certificate tied to the actual heat or batch number of your shipment — not a generic product certificate — because ABF and state building inspectors increasingly cross-reference MTCs against shipment quantities, and a mismatch can trigger a hold or non-conforming product notice that is far more costly than chasing the paperwork upfront.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 73 goods from China — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from China

Ch.85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted Ch.62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted Ch.94Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; luminaires and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings