The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has released preliminary determinations arising from the second phase of its wide-ranging steel tariff review, which has so far attracted significant public interest.

The preliminary determinations were published on September 18, and Itac has set aside four weeks for public comment.

Following the first phase, which was completed last year, protection on a range of steel products was increased to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) bound rate, which in most cases was 10%, but included tariffs of up to 30% on certain downstream products.

At the same time, some additional rebates were created for steel products not manufactured in South Africa.

These new measures were implemented by the South African Revenue Service on May 15, 2026.

However, Itac reports that it also received 109 written submissions from interested parties calling for either additional products to be considered for possible duty increases or import controls, as well as requests for the creation of additional rebate provisions.

These additional areas were acknowledged in a December 2025 publication, when interested parties were invited to submit comments on ways to improve the tariff and rebate structure to protect domestic manufacturing capacity and ensure input material not made locally was available to downstream industry.

In the newly published report, the Commission outlined various preliminary determinations, including:

• that the rate of customs duties on a number of other products, ranging from wire, rope and cables to screws, bolts, tubes and various flat-rolled products, be increased to their respective WTO bound rates of between 10% and 30% depending on the product listed on the tariff subheading;
• The creation of rebate provisions for the duty-free importation of products not deemed to be made in South Africa, and also extending the rebate provision to cases where anti-dumping duties had been imposed;
• A new list of products to be subjected to import permit controls;
• A preliminary determination to reject the proposed rebate quota of 85 000 t on hot rolled coil for the re-roller industry; and
• A rejection of the proposed creation of the rebate provisions for various flat- and long-steel products, as well as certain screws and washers.

Itac stressed that final determinations would be made only once the Commission had considered comments on the preliminary determinations.

The latest publication comes amid concern over potential shortages of certain long-steel products, the importation of which was being disrupted by the absence of rebate provisions.

The problem is said to be especially acute for structural steel imported under the 72.16 tariff heading, where imports from the key source markets of China and Thailand faced anti-dumping duties of 74.98% and 20.32% respectively in addition to the 10% general duty.

This steel is typically used in the mining, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

Itac has indicated that it is unlikely to consider the creation of rebates until the comment period for the second phase of the steel review has been completed.