On 10 September 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) informed that Egypt notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated a safeguard investigation on cold rolled coil, galvanised steel, and pre-painted steel and that it imposed a provisional measure.
In the notification Egypt indicated, among other things, as follows:
Offer of consultations
Egypt offers consultations under Article 12.4 with Members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned.”
Further, Egypt’s notification set forth the following details:
Deadlines and procedures to present evidence and views by interested parties
All interested parties are invited to make themselves known, submit their views in writing, and provide supporting evidence. Representations should preferably be submitted by email within 30 days from the date of publication of the Notice of Initiation in the Official Gazette. Submissions after the deadline may be disregarded.
Point of contact for the investigation
Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade
Trade Remedies Sector
New Administrative Capital – Governmental District
Cairo, Egypt
Email address: itpd@tas.gov.eg
What is a safeguard investigation?
A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or are threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.
Date of initiation and application of provisional measures
The Trade Remedies Sector of Egypt (TRS) initiated the investigation on 10/9/2025. The Notice of Initiation of the investigation was published in the Official Gazette of Egypt on 11 September 2025.
The TRS determined that the conditions to initiate and to impose provisional measures are met pursuant to Article 12.1(a), Article 12.4 and Article 6 of the Safeguards Agreement, as any delay would cause damage which it would be difficult to repair.
Product under investigation
The products subject to the investigation and proposed provisional safeguard measure are Cold Rolled Coil (CRC), Galvanized Steel (HDG/GI), Pre-painted Steel (PPGI), hereinafter called “the product concerned”, classified under HS code 720915, 720916, 720917, 720918, 720925, 720926, 720927, 720928, 720990, 721123, 721129, 721190, 722692, 721041, 721049, 721230, 721250, 722592, 722699, 721070, 721090, 721240, 721260, 722599, of the Harmonized Customs Tariff. These HS codes are given for information purposes only.
The Reasons for the initiation of the investigation and for the proposed provisional safeguard measure
TRS has received a request to initiate a safeguard investigation. The analysis of the information shows that Imports surged by 195% and by 237% during 2023 and 2024, respectively, compared to 2022. These increases are recent, sudden, sharp, and significant in absolute terms.
In particular, the evidence shows that imports of the product concerned have, among other consequences, a negative impact on the domestic industry during the period of investigation, including: declining sales volumes, a decline in unutilized capacity, a decline in productivity, a decline in profit returns to losses, and a decline in market share of the domestic industry. There is a significant increase in the volume of inventory.
These factors demonstrate that the domestic industry has suffered serious injury within the meaning of Article 4 of the Agreement on Safeguards.
The increase in imports appears to be the result of unforeseen developments as follows:
(i) The persistent global oversupply of the product concerned, exacerbated by slowing consumption in major world markets, created significant excess export capacity that was diverted to more open markets such as Egypt.
(ii) The unprecedented wave of imposition of trade remedies and higher tariffs by many major steel-importing countries, which restricted traditional export destinations for the product.
(iii) As a direct consequence, trade flows were diverted towards more open markets with lower tariff protection, including Egypt, which experienced a sudden and significant surge of imports.
Serious injury and causation
The preliminary determination indicated that the surge in imports coincided with, and was the cause of, the serious injury suffered by the domestic industry. Other possible factors, such as demand fluctuations, technological changes, and exports, were examined and found not to be the cause of injury.
Critical circumstances
Critical circumstances exist as a result of a preliminary determination that there is clear evidence that imports have caused serious injury to the domestic industry during the period of investigation, as follows:
i. The surge of imports in 2024 is 237% compared to 2022,
ii. The domestic industry has incurred significant losses in 2024.
iii. Moreover, the closure policies currently followed by many countries and the low Egyptian customs duties on the product concerned, compared to those of other countries, are a benefit.
If no provisional measure is taken immediately, delay would cause damage to the domestic industry that would be difficult to repair.
Provisional safeguard measure
It is proposed to impose a provisional safeguard duty on the product concerned as shown in the following schedule:
The following items are exempted from the proposed provisional safeguard measure:
- Cold-rolled steel coils prepared for enamelling on both sides.
- Galvanised steel coils and sheets with anti-bacterial protective coating.
- Galvanised steel coils and sheets coated with a Plastisol layer of 200 microns thickness or more.
- Galvanised steel coated with PET or VCM laminates.
- Pre-painted galvanised steel with an Al-Zn alloy coating (e.g., 55% Al, 43.5% Zn, 1.6% Si).
This measure is considered necessary to prevent further injury to the domestic industry.
Proposed date of imposition and duration of the Provisional Safeguard measure
The provisional safeguard measure is proposed to enter into force on 14 September upon the publication of the Ministerial decree in the Official Gazette. It will remain in force for a period of 200 days.
The choice of the maximum duration is justified by the urgent need to stabilise the domestic industry and complete the investigation.
Offer of consultations
Egypt offers consultations under Article 12.4 with Members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned.
Developing country Members are exempted
In accordance with Article 9 of the Agreement on Safeguards, developing country Members are exempted as long as each accounts individually for less than 3% of Egypt’s imports, and collectively not more than 9%.
Deadlines and procedures to present evidence and views by interested parties
All interested parties are invited to make themselves known, submit their views in writing, and provide supporting evidence. Representations should preferably be submitted by email within 30 days from the date of publication of the Notice of Initiation in the Official Gazette. Submissions after the deadline may be disregarded.
Point of contact for the investigation
Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade
Trade Remedies Sector
New Administrative Capital – Governmental District
Cairo, Egypt
Email address: itpd@tas.gov.eg
