On September 18, 2026, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) extended an invitation to comment on the second phase of its review of the tariff structure and investigation into the possible introduction of an import surveillance system for steel products classifiable under tariff chapters 72, 73, 82 and 83 of the Customs and Excise Act, 1964, which is due by October 16, 2026.
On August 20, 2025, following the publication of its preliminary determinations on the first phase of the review, ITAC received 109 written submissions from interested parties on all the aspects of the investigation covered. ITAC finalised its work on the first phase of this review process. Its recommendations on all tariffs, as outlined in its Report No. 764, were implemented by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on May 15, 2026. Work is currently underway to implement the non-tariff measures simultaneously recommended in Report No. 764.
ITAC also received additional submissions from interested parties regarding the addition of products to the list for possible duty increases, requests to create additional rebate provisions and requests to add more products to the import control list.
In light of the above, and following its preliminary investigations, ITAC published the additional areas on November 21, 2025 (corrected on December 17, 2025) and invited parties to submit comments.
The implementation of ITAC’s Report No. 764 by SARS on May 15, 2026, also brought to light the need for further strengthening of the tariff and rebate structure for all steel products. This will help align and optimise the tariff and rebate structures so that existing domestic manufacturing capacity is fully protected while ensuring the availability of input material to downstream manufacturing industries where certain products are not made domestically.
In this regard, ITAC has received several submissions from interested parties seeking additional rebate provisions for the duty-free importation of certain grades of steel products not manufactured domestically as well as duty increases on additional product lines.
Following its preliminary investigations and wide-ranging industry consultations on all these additional areas, ITAC has decided to make the following preliminary determinations:
- A preliminary determination that the rate of customs duties on all products outlined in Table 1 be increased to their respective World Trade Organization (WTO)-bound rates
- A preliminary determination that rebate provisions created for the duty-free importation of products, as outlined in Table 2 and where Schedule No. 2 to the Act of 1964 (Trade Remedies) duties apply, to extend the rebate provisions to also cater for such duties
- A preliminary determination that all products listed in Table 3 be subjected to import permit controls in line with Section 6 of the ITA Act, 2002
- A preliminary determination to reject the proposed rebate quota of 85 000 tons on hot-rolled coil for the roller industry published in Table 2. The potential unintended consequences of such a rebate quota outweigh any benefits. Additionally, ITAC’s policy is not to recommend rebate provisions for products manufactured domestically with adequate manufacturing capacity.
- It is proposed that ITAC should make a preliminary determination to reject the proposed creation of the rebate provisions listed in Table 4 of Annexure A.
It should be noted that ITAC has not yet made its final determination on any of the above and nothing in this notice should be construed as such. The final determination will only be made once ITAC has considered all comments on these “preliminary determinations”.
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