In a move that signals a turning point in Seoul’s economic strategy, the expiration of South Korea’s anti-dumping duties on stainless-steel bars from Japan, India and Spain on Jan. 22 parallels the end of similar duties on Taiwanese and Italian imports in May.

The Korea Trade Commission of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy highlighted three reasons for this change: the absence of a renewal request from the Korean steel industry, a substantial reduction in Japanese steel imports and the regained competitiveness of the domestic steel industry.