According to the latest regulatory policies, China’s current export of steel products is not a complete ban, but rather an export license management system will be officially implemented starting from January 1, 2026. This means that products falling under the controlled range of the Harmonized System (HS) codes must obtain an export license issued by the commerce department before customs declaration for export. Based on your concerns, I have summarized the core information into the following three points:
How extensive is the control range?
This control involves 300 HS codes, basically covering the entire chain from initial processing to finished products.
- Core scope: It mainly includes 224 codes under Chapter 72 (Steel) of the Tariff and 76 codes under subheadings 7301-7307 of Chapter 73 (Steel Products).
- Specific products: These include pig iron, scrap steel, steel billets, hot-rolled/cold-rolled coils, sheet piles, seamless steel pipes, steel for rails, and steel pipe fittings, etc.
- Note the exceptions: Ferroalloys (heading 7202) and some stainless steel bars and rods are not included for the time being.
What materials are required to apply for a license?
Unlike the previous automatic license, this is a substantive administrative license with a higher review threshold. When applying, the following materials need to be submitted:
- Basic documents: An export contract stamped by both the Chinese and foreign parties.
- Core certificates: A product quality inspection certificate issued by the manufacturer. Although there is no unified template, the manufacturer information on the certificate must be consistent with the application information and stamped with a quality inspection seal or company seal.
Rules for using the license
The rules for using the license vary depending on the trade method:
- For processing trade and compensation trade: “Non-batch-by-batch license” is implemented, allowing multiple customs declarations within the validity period (up to 12 times).
- For other trade methods: “Batch-by-batch license” is implemented, allowing only one customs declaration per license.
Post time: Mar-12-2026
