On 20 September 2024, ITAC initiated an anti-dumping investigation into imports tariff sub-headings 7208.10, 7208.25, 7208.26, 7208.27, 7208.36, 7208.37, 7208.38, 7208.39, 7208.51, 7208.52, 7225.30 and 7225.40, flat-rolled steel products from China, Japan, and Taiwan. The subject products are classified as iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel, 600mm or more in width, hot-rolled (including pickled and oiled), but not further worked, and exclude stainless and grain-oriented silicon electrical steel.
The application was brought by Arcelor Mittal South Africa, with support from Columbus Stainless who allege material injury to the SACU steel industry due to lowly priced imports from China, Japan, and Taiwan. On 19 February 2025, ITAC concluded its preliminary findings highlighting that the applicant provided substantial evidence indicating the prevalence of dumping, material injury and a causal link between the two. However, despite this preliminary determination, the commission has opted not to impose provisional anti-dumping duties at this stage.
The Commission noted that a safeguard investigation is underway and close to being finalised. In order to avoid imposing both anti-dumping and safeguard duties at the same time Commission decided to suspend the provisional duties as the safeguard duties would cover both China, Japan and Taiwan. Based on prior experience the anti-dumping duties will be imposed for two years, but only after the final safeguard duties have expired after three years.
The investigation is ongoing, and all interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the preliminary findings.