Pending the outcome of an investigation by the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) into the alleged dumping of structural steel products imported from China and Thailand into South Africa, South African Revenue Services (Sars) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has imposed provisional duties of 52.81% against the value of imports of structural steel products from China, and 9.12% against imports of structural steel products from Thailand.

Sars imposed the provisional duties upon Itac’s request on November 29. They will expire on May 28 next year.

This comes on the back of an Itac investigation that was initiated on September 20 into the alleged dumping of structural steel products imported from China and Thailand.

Structural steel products are an intermediary product in the fabrication, construction and mining industries and are used in the rail, renewable energy, primary energy, infrastructure development and general engineering sectors. The products are used to build a steel structure for warehouses and buildings.

Itac was asked to initiate the investigation by ArcelorMittal Rails and Structures – the only producer of structural steel products in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu).

The investigation was initiated after Itac considered that, based on initial evidence, structural steel products were indeed being imported into the Sacu market at dumped prices, causing material injury to Sacu.

After considering all the facts available before it, Itac made a preliminary determination that dumping of structural steel products was indeed taking place and that this was causally linked to the Sacu industry experiencing material injury.

This led Itac to determine that there were critical circumstances where a delay would cause further material injury to the Sacu industry. Itac, therefore, decided that provisional measures needed to be imposed for six months pending the finalisation of the investigation.

The investigation is currently ongoing and Itac is awaiting comments from interested parties on its preliminary report. The investigation is expected to be completed by May next year.