On 16 March the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) called for comment, by 30 March on the proposed creation of a temporary rebate provision of ordinary customs duties and safeguard duties applicable on:
- “Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, hot-rolled, not clad, plated or coated, classifiable in tariff heading 72.08, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, cold-rolled (cold-reduced), not clad, plated or coated, classifiable in tariff heading 72.09, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, clad, plated or coated, classifiable in tariff headings 72.10, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the products are not available in the SACU market and also that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600 mm, not clad, plated or coated, classifiable in tariff headings 72.11, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, clad, plated or coated, classifiable in tariff headings 72.12, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Flat-rolled products of other alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, of silicon-electrical steel classifiable in tariff heading 7225.1, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No. 4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Other flat-rolled products of other alloy steel, of a width of 600mm or more, other, classifiable in tariff heading 7225.99, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
- “Other flat-rolled products of other alloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, classifiable in tariff heading 7226.9, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available in the SACU market and that the flat-rolled products are not specifically covered by another rebate provision in Schedule No.4 for the same industry and purpose.”
The application was lodged by Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) who reasoned that:
- Concerns received from a number of downstream sectors indicating that there are interruptions in the reliable supply of steel domestically which has resulted in critical shortage of steel.
- The critical shortage of steel is mainly attributable to unplanned and unforeseen shutdown at ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (AMSA) plants which have worsened due to the company’s decision to restart its second blast-furnace at its Vanderbijlpark post the Covid-19 lockdown.
- Furthermore, the reliability of supply by AMSA has been an ongoing issue prior to Covid-19.
- The ongoing primary steel shortages and supply challenges of flat steel products is placing the value chain at risk.
Story by: Riaan de Lange