Colombian steelmakers Votorantim's Acerias Paz del Rio, Diaco, Ternium Siderurgica de Caldas, Siderurgica Nacional (Sidenal) and Siderurgica del Occidente asked the local government for a probe into the imports of rebar from countries with which Colombia does not have existing trade agreements, SteelOrbis has learned.
According to a government document updated this week, the local steelmakers are requesting that the government impose safeguarding duties for the products falling under the HS codes 7213.10.00.00 and 7214.20.00.00. The Colombian government extended in mid-November the deadline for other interested parties to comment. Despite not naming a specific country, the government document said the imports of the product usually come from China and Turkey..
Importer Steckerl Aceros SAS, a Colombia-based company, was identified as an "interested party" in the process, as it distributes the imported steel. At this point, the Colombian steelmakers' request was received, but the local government is yet to determine whether it will proceed or not with an investigation.