Local steel industry gets protection

Steel exporters from China, Taiwan and Malaysia will no longer be able to slightly change their products to get around Australian duties.

Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said the retrospective anti-dumping action - which will force the exporters to pay at least $4 million in duties - was made in response to a complaint from BlueScope Steel last year.

"Australian steelmakers need to be able to benefit from free and fair trade," Mr Pyne said on Friday.