On 20 August 2025, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) called for comment on its self-initiated review of the tariff structure and investigation into the possible introduction of an import surveillance system for steel products classifiable under Chapters 72, 73, 82, and 83 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 which is due by 05 September 2025.
On 19 March 2025, ITAC published the abovementioned review in the Government Gazette for a period of four (4) weeks for interested parties to comment on a number of focus areas. During the publication period, in excess of 150 comments were received from interested parties, ranging from requests for duty increases, the creation of rebate provisions, inclusion of specific products under import control and other general comments on the potential impact of the review on the steel value chain.
Based on these submissions and the analysis of the evidence before ITAC, it was decided to make the following preliminary determinations:
- A preliminary determination that the rate of customs duties on all products listed in Table 1 below be increased to their respective bound rates.
- A preliminary determination that additional rebate provisions be created for steel products, as outlined in Table 2 in the Government Gazette notice.
- A preliminary determination that all products listed in Table 3, in the Government Gazette notice, be subjected to import control, in line with section 6 of the International Trade Administration (ITA) Act, 2002.
- A preliminary determination that, as and when standards are developed for any steel-related product category falling in Table 3, in the Government Gazette notice, such standards or compulsory specifications should be incorporated into the import permit control system as additional conditions for the issuing of import permits.
- A preliminary determination that input products used in steel-making, particularly stainless steel, as outlined in Table 4, in the Government Gazette notice, are to be maintained free of duty.
- A preliminary determination that the ongoing geopolitical landscape does constitute an unprecedented emergency, necessitating urgent action in line with Article 19 and Article 21 of the GATT.
- A preliminary determination that a committee comprising industry role players and members of the ITAC be formed, in terms of Section 14 of the ITAC Act, 2002, to advise ITAC on steel-related matters.
It should be noted that ITAC has not yet made its final determination on any of the above matters, and nothing in this notice should be construed as such. The final determination will only be made once ITAC has considered comments from members of the public on this “preliminary determination”.
The detailed notice is accessible at:
https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/202508/53207gen3438.pdf