AMSA vs the Steel Downstream: NEASA applies to have Steel Import Duties removed

AMSA vs the STEEL DOWNSTREAM

NEASA APPLIES TO HAVE

STEEL IMPORT DUTIES REMOVED

while

AMSA APPLIES FOR MORE PROTECTIVE STEEL IMPORT DUTIES

AMSA has recently applied to Government to have more duties implemented on steel products not covered by the existing duties. As you are aware, AMSA wants duties to even apply to more products it does not manufacture.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

At the time of the introduction of the duties in 2015, Government undertook to review the duties with “immediate effect” if AMSA did not meet any one of the following conditions:

• no price increases on the products affected as a result of the tariff adjustment
• price decreases on certain products
• substantial investment by AMSA
• no retrenchments

At the time of the introduction, Government also undertook that ITAC (International Trade Administration Commission) would conduct a review of the duty structure three years from the date of implementation.

Today prices are up to 60 percent higher than what it was in 2015, AMSA withdrew R3,2 billion from the country and no substantial investment was made to improve AMSA’s production capabilities.

Despite this, ITAC never initiated either the immediate review or the automatic review after the three-year period.

NEASA REQUESTED ITAC TO REVIEW THE DUTIES

As a result of this NEASA, in a letter to ITAC, requested the implementation of this review. (Click here to review letter to ITAC).

Kind Regards

Privileged and challenged to be South African.
We are all in this together.