On 28 May 2016, the Malaysian authorities initiated a safeguard investigation on imports of steel concrete reinforcing bars that are hot-rolled steel bars containing indentations, ribs, groves or other deformation (P.U. (B) No. 263/2016, 27.05.2016). The products subject to investigation are classified under the following HS code subheadings: 7214.10.210, 7214.10.290, 7214.10.910, 7214.10.990, 7214.20.210, 7214.20.290, 7214.20.910, 7214.20.990, 7214.30.100, 7214.30.900, 7214.99.210, 7214.99.290, 7214.99.910, 7214.99.990, 7228.10.100, 7228.10.900, 7228.20.100, 7228.20.900, 7228.30.100, 7228.30.900, 7228.40.100, 7228.40.900, 7228.50.100, 7228.50.900, 7228.60.100, 7228.60.900, 7228.80.100, 7228.80.910 and 7228.80.990. This follows the request lodged by the Malaysia Steel Association.
Affected trading partners are identified based on UN Comtrade's import data from 2014.
 
On 26 September 2016, the Malaysian authorities imposed a provisional safeguard duty on imports of the above-mentioned products. The rate of the duty is 13.42% of CIF price. Developing countries, with the exception of China, are not subjected to the provisional safeguard duty. This provisional duty is in force for a period of 200 days.

On 13 April 2017, the Malaysian authorities imposed a definitive safeguard duty on imports of the subject good. The rate of the duty is 13.42% between 14 April 2017 and 13 April 2018, 12.27% between 14 April 2018 and 13 April 2019, and 11.10 between 14 April 2019 and 13 April 2020. A number of developing countries are exempt from safeguard duties.