The Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) has stated that the antidumping duties imposed on structural steel imports from China and Thailand, as well as on flat rolled steel imports from China, Japan and Taiwan, in line with the decision published by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) on March 20, 2026, have triggered fresh debate in the sector.
Support for protecting local industry
SAISC said it supports the aim of these measures to protect local industry capacity and ensure fair trade conditions. The institute underlined the important role of ITAC and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in maintaining a balanced and rules-based trade environment. The measures have been published by SteelOrbis in March this year.
Sudden implementation creates risk of supply gaps
At the same time, SAISC noted that the sudden implementation of the measures has already started to create difficulties in the market. According to the institute, some traders and service centers are cancelling or postponing import orders due to uncertainty over pricing and supply. In addition, certain product lines are no longer available in previous volumes because of changes in domestic production capacity. SAISC warned that this could lead to supply gaps, particularly for products in sizes and specifications not readily available in the local market, with possible negative consequences for project costs, delivery times and export competitiveness.
Quality and supply chain issues also in focus
SAISC therefore recommended that a phased or delayed implementation of the tariffs should be considered. According to the institute, the debate is not simply about protectionism versus free trade, but rather about building a steel value chain that is reliable, consistent and competitive. In SAISC’s view, the long-term resilience of the sector will depend on compliance with standards, transparent and traceable supply chains, confidence in material quality, and cooperation among industry participants.