Group 1 - The South Korean government announced a 21.62% anti-dumping tax on Chinese stainless steel plates for five years, escalating trade tensions despite previous commitments to ease relations with China [1][3] - In response, China extended anti-dumping duties on stainless steel billets and hot-rolled coils from South Korea, the EU, the UK, and Indonesia, with rates as high as 103.1% [3][4] - The steel industry is crucial for China's manufacturing sector, and the anti-dumping measures reflect a strategic response to protect domestic industries from external low-price dumping [4][14] Group 2 - South Korea's actions are part of a broader strategy that includes investigations into various steel and chemical products, indicating a comprehensive approach to trade protection [3][4] - The anti-dumping measures from China are based on a systematic logic, with a history of investigations dating back to 2019, and are designed to prevent Korean companies from benefiting from the expiration of previous tariffs [4][14] - The trade conflict is influenced by U.S. pressure, as South Korea faces potential automotive tariffs from the U.S. if it does not impose higher tariffs on Chinese steel products [6][7] Group 3 - The South Korean steel and chemical industries are under significant pressure, with capacity utilization rates projected to drop from 82% in 2023 to 68% by 2025, leading to potential closures of over 30 small and medium-sized steel firms [7][11] - China's anti-dumping measures include exemptions for certain companies, such as POSCO, if they maintain export prices above a specified threshold, indicating a more nuanced approach compared to South Korea's blanket measures [4][5] - The ongoing trade tensions highlight the delicate balance South Korea must maintain in its foreign relations, particularly in the context of its economic dependencies on both the U.S. and China [14][15]