On 18 September 2026, Itac published its preliminary determinations on the second phase of its review of the tariff structure and possible introduction of an import surveillance system for steel products classified under Chapters 72, 73, 82 and 83.
Proposed increases in customs duties
Itac has proposed increasing customs duties on several steel products to their respective World Trade Organization (WTO) bound rates. The proposed increases cover a range of products, including:
| Product | Current duty | Proposed duty |
|---|---|---|
| Steel ropes and cables | 5% | 15% |
| Nuts (7318.16.29) | 10% | 30% |
| Mining scaffolding equipment | Free | 15% |
| Certain seamless steel tubes and pipes | Free | 15% |
| Certain cold-rolled steel products | Free | 10% |
| Certain stainless steel flat-rolled products | Free | 10% |
| Crown corks | 5% | 20% |
The full list of affected products and proposed rates is provided in Table 1 of the Gazette. Send an email to info@xagta.com to get the full gazette
Proposed rebate provisions
Itac has also proposed new rebate provisions for certain steel products that are not available in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) market.
These include bars, rods, structural sections and wire classified under tariff headings 72.13 to 72.17, as well as certain railway rails, electrical steel and specialised inputs used in downstream manufacturing. The proposed rebates would provide relief from the full customs duties under Schedules No. 1 and No. 2, subject to Itac permits and specified conditions.
Existing rebate provisions for hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel under headings 72.08 and 72.09 would also be amended to cover anti-dumping and safeguard duties.
Proposed import permit controls
Itac has made a preliminary determination to introduce import permit controls on products listed in Table 3 of the Gazette. The affected products include steel ingots, semi-finished steel, hot-rolled and cold-rolled products, bars, rods, wire, nails, springs and cast articles. These controls would be introduced under section 6 of the International Trade Administration Act.
We do not believe implementing this is allowed under either WTO or South Africa’s own trade legislation. We submitted a detailed response to Itac on this in 2025, but clearly that was not taken seriously. If this is implemented, there may be grounds to a legal challenge.
If you are worried about needing a permit just to import steel, then send us a mail at info@xagta.com
Proposed rebate applications rejected
Itac has provisionally rejected the proposed annual rebate quota of 85 000 tonnes of hot-rolled coil for the re-roller industry. The Commission cited potential unintended consequences and its policy against recommending rebates for products manufactured domestically where adequate production capacity exists.
It has also proposed rejecting the additional rebate provisions listed in Table 4 of the Gazette.
Deadline for comments
These determinations are preliminary and remain subject to Itac’s consideration of submissions from interested parties.