The South African government is on the verge of a major policy announcement concerning the country's steel industry, with preliminary findings from a tariff review expected next week. This move comes as the local steel sector faces severe challenges, including a substantial increase in low-priced imports, primarily from China, which is contributing to local overcapacity. The review, initiated by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) in March, follows a ministerial directive to assess whether existing steel duties are providing adequate protection. ITAC Chief Commissioner Ayabonga Cawe stated that the commission has received around 150 responses from stakeholders as part of the review, which covers more than 600 tariff codes. The urgency of the situation is highlighted by major local producer ArcelorMittal South Africa's recent announcement of a plan to close its loss-making long steel operations, citing competition from cheap imports as a key factor. 3 The review will determine if more products need import control and whether an emergency should be declared to trigger broader safeguard measures
