Importing Steel from China to Colombia: the 35% Decreto 0264 Shock & the FTA Bypass (2026)
Verified 2026-10-30 against Decreto 0264 of 16 March 2026. Colombia has no FTA with China, and the government used that gap aggressively: 14 steel tariff lines were raised from 5/10% to 35% for one year, explicitly targeting non-FTA origins — China, Turkey, Russia and Brazil — while FTA partners (United States, EU, South Korea, Canada) keep preferential rates. Chinese-origin steel supplied 134,929 tonnes / US$124.6 million in 2025, and domestic capacity utilization sits near 60%, which is the political engine behind the decree. IVA of 19% applies on top (creditable for registered importers). No safeguard covers flat steel, and the AD docket is concentrated on pipe products.
Duty structure after Decreto 0264 (2026)
| Route | Duty | Legal basis | IVA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 listed steel lines (7208/7209/7210/7225 etc.), non-FTA origin | 35% (was 5–10%) | Decreto 0264, one year from 2026-03-16 | 19% IVA |
| Same lines, FTA origin (US/EU/Korea/CAN) | 0–5% by FTA | exempt from the increase | 19% IVA |
| Non-listed steel lines, China | 5–15% MFN | unchanged | 19% IVA |
The decree is time-boxed to one year — contracts signed against the expiry window should include a duty-change clause.
Why Colombia moved — and what expires when
The decree's recitals cite import surges and the ~60% capacity-utilization of domestic mills (Acerías Paz del Río, Siderúrmica Nacional). It is a classic temporary-protection instrument under the Andean price-band framework, and it will lapse in March 2027 unless renewed.
Commercial implication: importers of record route to the decree's edge — checking whether a specific grade falls on a listed subline, or qualifying Pacific Alliance cumulation where real transformation supports it. The 35% line is a ceiling, not a floor: unlisted sublines remain at 5–15%.
The plate route under 7225 — subline by subline
Plate under 7225 needs line-by-line checking against the decree's annex: some 7225 sublines are listed at 35%, others remain at 10%. Where a subline is unlisted, the plate lane keeps a $150–190/t advantage over the HRC lane and stays competitive against US-origin offers on specification-driven purchases.
Baohui verifies the exact subline classification before quoting Colombia: our NM wear plate and Q690E shipments carry the DIAN tariff-line confirmation in the offer, so the 35% question is answered before the vessel loads, not at the dock.
Landed-cost cascade — worked example (25 t NM450 plate, listed vs unlisted line)
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| NM450 plate, 25 t × $795/t CIF | $19,875 | CIF Buenaventura |
| Decreto 0264 duty 35% | +$6,956 | if the line is listed |
| IVA 19% (on CIF + duty) | +$5,097 | creditable |
| Landed ≈ $1,275/t (listed line) | vs ≈$1,070/t for FTA origin |
An unlisted subline saves ~$205/t of duty on this parcel; the IVA is creditable either way.
Documents DIAN will ask for
- Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading
- Mill test certificate matching the tariff subline
- RUT (tax ID) of the Colombian importer
- Andean declaration of origin where cumulation is claimed
Change log — what moved, and when
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Chinese steel imports reach 134,929 t / US$124.6M; domestic utilization ~60% |
| 2026-03-16 | Decreto 0264: 14 steel lines to 35% for non-FTA origins, one year |
| 2027-03-16 | Decree expiry / renewal decision point |
Related guide: electrical steel
HS 7225 also covers grain-oriented (GO) and non-oriented (NGO) electrical steel — the silicon steel grades used in transformer and motor cores. Read our guide: What is electrical steel — grades, GO vs NGO, and the global market.
Colombia steel import FAQ
What duty does Chinese steel pay in Colombia now?
On the 14 listed lines, 35% MFN for one year from 16 March 2026 (up from 5–10%). Unlisted lines remain at 5–15%. IVA 19% applies on top and is creditable.
Does the 35% apply to all Chinese steel?
No — only to the 14 listed tariff lines and only to non-FTA origins. FTA partners keep their preferential rates, and unlisted Chinese sublines keep 5–15%.
When does the increase expire?
The decree runs one year to March 2027. Renewal is a political decision; price long contracts with a duty-change clause.
Is there anti-dumping on Chinese flat steel?
No AD on flat products; Colombia's remedy history is concentrated on steel pipe. The decree is the operative barrier.
How long does clearance take in Buenaventura?
Typically 2–4 working days with complete documents; subline classification queries add 3–7 days.
Sources & verification
- 1Decreto 0264 de 2026 — 14 steel lines to 35% (Presidencia/DIAN)
- 2Yieh.com — Colombia raises steel tariffs on non-FTA origins
- 3Forbes Colombia — tariff decree coverage
- 4MetalRadar — Colombia steel trade data
Figures on this page were verified on 2026-10-30 against the official sources below. Data is reviewed and re-verified monthly; dates of each review are shown on this page.
