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The GCC operates a unified trade-defence framework under the GCC Common Law on Antidumping, Countervailing Measures and Safeguard Measures, administered by the GCC-TSAIP (headquartered in Riyadh under the GCC Secretariat General). Determinations apply bloc-wide and are implemented at member-state level via national customs authorities — in Saudi Arabia by GAFT (General Authority of Foreign Trade), in the UAE by Dubai/Abu Dhabi Customs, and in the remaining four members by their equivalent agencies.
The investigation was initiated 29 April 2020 following a domestic-industry petition, covering aluminium alloy flat-rolled semis — plates, sheets and strip — under HS 7606.12.00 (rectangular or square cross-section aluminium alloy plates/sheets/strip, not further worked) and 7606.92.00 (other aluminium alloy plates/sheets/strip). These product lines sit at the midpoint of the aluminium value chain: upstream is primary smelting (Saudi Arabia's Ma'aden and UAE's EMAL/EGA are major GCC producers of primary aluminium); downstream is the rolling/fabricating sector that converts flat-rolled semis into building facades, transport panels, and packaging. The 33% definitive duty was designed to raise the import price of Chinese dumped product to the non-injurious level and protect Gulf downstream rollers operating within or adjacent to GCC industrial parks.
The GAFT follow-up register records the formal imposed date as 22 July 2021, with expiry 21 July 2026 — a standard five-year term under the GCC Common Law.
On 21 April 2026, GCC-TSAIP initiated a sunset review of the measure. Under the GCC Common Law, the duty remains in force while the review is pending. The review will determine whether expiry would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and injury; if so, the duty will be extended for another five-year term.
The sunset-review initiation is not yet filed as an amendment here because no change to the duty rate, scope, or severity has been made. If the review results in extension or modification, that outcome should be filed as an amendment with amendment_date set to the determination date.
Aluminium is classified as a Strategic Raw Material under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA Annex I, 2024). China accounts for approximately 57% of global primary aluminium smelting capacity and a larger share of downstream rolling and semi-fabrication. A GCC-wide 33% anti-dumping wall on Chinese aluminium flat-rolled semis re-prices the China → Gulf material flow and signals awareness among oil-economy states of the risk of excessive dependence on Chinese-sourced semi-finished aluminium inputs.
This is the first GCC-TSAIP trade-defence instrument in the IPTM register. The GCC common AD/CVD/safeguard regime has been operational since the 2003 Common Law and has issued several definitive measures, but none were previously captured here. This action fills a clean bloc gap: the register previously had zero trade-remedy actions from any GCC member or the GCC common regime.
price protection against Chinese dumped semis; their cost competitiveness on the European/Asian export markets may improve modestly.
distribution hubs face higher landed costs through the GCC customs union perimeter.
in force for a decade — cementing GCC-TSAIP as an active trade-defence authority alongside EU, US, Brazil, and India on the aluminium trade-remedy map.
a single bloc-wide 33% rate?
the GCC-TSAIP / GAFT website for the review determination (expected before 21 July 2026).
aluminium semis (i.e. the AD duty is additional to the base tariff)?