KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- The government has decided to impose a provisional safeguard duty of 23.93 per cent ad-valorem on imports of hot-rolled steel plate (HRP) with effect from Sunday for a period of 200 days.

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), in a statement Friday, said the provisional safeguard duty was to reduce the effects of serious injury to the domestic industry caused by the surge in HRP imports.

"The final determination under section 23 of the Safeguards Act 2006 will be made within 200 days from the application of the provisional safeguard measure," it added.

On Aug 18, the government initiated a safeguard investigation based on a petition filed by Ji Kang Dimensi Sdn Bhd on behalf of domestic HRP producers.

The petitioner alleged that increased HRP imports from 2011 to 2013 had caused serious injury to the domestic industry.

The government's preliminary investigation under section 20 of the Safeguards Act 2006 found that there was sufficient evidence to continue with investigations on the imports of HRP, said MITI.

Interested parties can have access to the public report on the preliminary determination by submitting a written request to the ministry.