On 10 September 2025, Egypt notified the WTO’s Committee on Safeguards that it initiated a safeguard investigation on semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel (billets) and that it imposed a provisional measure.
In the notification Egypt indicated, among other things, the following:
Offer of consultations
Egypt offers consultations under Article 12.4 with members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned.
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.
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.
(Safeguards Agreement), Egypt hereby notifies that a safeguard investigation has been initiated as follows:
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 product concerned is semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel (billets), classified under HS code 72.07 of the Harmonised Customs Tariff. This HS code is 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 643% in 2022 compared to 2021, decreased slightly by 14% in 2023 compared to 2022, and then increased again by 227% in 2024 compared to 2023. From 2021 to 2024, cumulative imports increased by 1,976%. Relative to domestic production, imports increased by 612% in 2022 compared to 2021, decreased slightly by 14% in 2023 compared to 2022, and then increased by 227% in 2024 compared to 2023. These increases are recent, sudden, sharp, and significant, whether in absolute or relative terms to domestic production.
In particular, the evidence shows that imports of the product concerned have had, among other consequences, a negative impact on the domestic industry, including declining sales volumes, rising unutilised capacity, deterioration in productivity, significant financial losses incurred in 2024 compared to 2023, and a loss of market share of Egypt’s producers.
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 billets, exacerbated by slowing consumption in major world markets, which 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; and
(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, as follows:
i. The surge of imports in 2024 is 227% compared to 2023;
ii. The domestic industry has incurred significant losses in 2024 compared to 2023;
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 significant.
If no provisional measure is taken immediately, delay would cause damage to the domestic industry, which would be difficult to repair.
Provisional safeguard measure
It is proposed to impose a provisional safeguard duty of 16.2% ad valorem of the CIF value, with a minimum specific duty of 4,613 EGP per ton.
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 2025 upon the ministerial decree, which will be published 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 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