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

Importing HS Chapter 73 steel articles from Japan under CPTPP can deliver meaningful tariff savings, but anti-dumping measures targeting specific Japanese steel products such as hot-rolled coil and reinforcing bar mean importers must verify the Anti-Dumping Commission register before each shipment, as additional duties can eliminate any preferential rate benefit entirely.

✓ FTA Active: CPTPPHS Chapter 73

Free Trade Agreement

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

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

View CPTPP rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a valid CPTPP origin declaration or Certificate of Origin from the Japanese exporter before lodging the import entry.
⚠Search the Anti-Dumping Commission measures register for the specific HS subheading prior to each shipment to confirm no dumping duties apply.
⚠Ensure all timber dunnage and wooden crating is ISPM 15 certified and that structural steel items are accompanied by mill certificates confirming AS/NZS 3678 or 3679 compliance.
⚠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 CPTPP origin declaration or Certificate of Origin must be presented at time of import entry lodgement to claim preferential tariff rates under Schedule 1 of the Customs Tariff Act 1995; self-declaration by approved exporters is accepted under CPTPP rules
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission apply to certain Japanese steel products including hot-rolled coil and reinforcing bar; importers must check the measures register prior to shipment to avoid significant additional duty liability
⚠All electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards and the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS); importers are responsible for ensuring products meet applicable Australian standards such as AS/NZS requirements before placing goods on the market
⚠Biosecurity import conditions under the Biosecurity Act 2015 apply to timber, wooden packaging, and any goods with residual organic material; all wooden pallets and crates must be ISPM 15 treated and marked, and goods may be subject to inspection or treatment on arrival by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

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 Japan — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Japan

Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 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.72Iron and steel Ch.39Plastics and articles thereof Ch.40Rubber and articles thereof