<a href="https://absafricatv.com/south-africa-namibia-strengthen-partnership-on-womens-empowerment-law/" title="South Africa, Namibia strengthen partnership on women's empowerment | Law”>South Africa has opened a new front in its fight to protect the steel industry, with a fresh case now before the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The WTO confirmed that International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC), the country’s trade watchdog, was investigating whether a surge in imports of cold-rolled steel products was causing serious harm to local producers.
The application was lodged by ArcelorMittal South Africa, the only producer of these products in the Southern African Customs Union.
The company said falling sales, shrinking market share and mounting losses showed real damage from cheaper imports flooding the market.
The move is the latest in a string of protective measures for the sector this year.
That includes a sweeping tariff review in May and a safeguard duty on corrosion-resistant steel coil imposed in June.
But pressure has been building for years.
The steel sector has shed around 25,000 jobs since 2009, and ArcelorMittal itself wound down its long steel business earlier this year.
The industry blamed cheap imports and global oversupply.
However, smaller manufacturers downstream warned that piling duty on duty could raise their costs and cost jobs elsewhere in the value chain.
Interested parties have until 30 July to respond to the safeguard case.
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