Steel Industry: Proposed Import Surveillance System

Posted 20 August 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Trade

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC), on behalf of the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), has gazetted a notice calling for input on proposed measures under the Customs & Excise Act, No. 91 of 1964 intended to protect the local steel and stainless steel industry value chain.

Interested parties have until 3 September 2025 to submit comments on the proposed ‘import surveillance system’. This regulatory intervention follows a review of the tariff structure initiated in January 2025 and subsequent preliminary proposals released in March 2025. The DTIC cites the current geo-political landscape as an ‘unprecedented emergency’, justifying urgent action under Article 19 and Article 21 of the 1941 General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade (GATT).

The proposed surveillance system targets specific categories within the Customs & Excise Act, No. 91 of 1964, specifically:

  • Chapter 72: Primary carbon and stainless products, including hot-rolled coil;
  • Chapter 73: Steel articles such as wire and pipes;
  • Chapter 82: Tools and cutlery; and
  • Chapter 83: Miscellaneous steel products, including items such as padlocks.

The system is designed to monitor and mitigate the impact of low-priced imports that are reportedly causing serious sustainability challenges for South African steel industry value chains. The measures aim to provide a more granular view of import volumes and pricing to inform future trade policy and potential safeguard duties.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through firm-level trade compliance and supply chain management.
  • For your business: Firms engaged in the manufacturing or importation of goods listed under Chapters 72, 73, 82, and 83 must review the proposed surveillance requirements to assess potential administrative burdens or changes to import clearance procedures.
  • For your clients: Clients operating within the steel value chain should be advised to submit formal comments by the 3 September 2025 deadline, particularly regarding how the surveillance system might affect their procurement timelines and cost structures.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/steel-industry-input-sought-on-import-surveillance-system-proposals

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