According to a statement released by the World Trade Organization (WTO), South Africa has begun to impose a nine percent provisional safeguard duty on import hot rolled steel products for 200 days, starting from June 28, following a safeguard measure investigation launched by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa in February this year. Developing countries will be exempt from this duty.
The investigation in question had been launched pursuant to an application by the South African Iron & Steel Institute, on behalf of ArcelorMittal South Africa. During the investigation, it was determined that increased imports have caused serious injury to the domestic market.
The products in question currently fall under the Customs Tariff Statistics Position Numbers 7208.10, 7208.25, 7208.26, 7208.27, 7208.36, 7208.37, 7208.38, 7208.39, 7208.40, 7208.51, 7208.52, 7208.53, 7208.54, 7208.90, 7211.14, 7225.30, 7225.40, 7225.99, and 7226.99.
