South Africa has introduced significantly higher import duties on structural steel products from China and Thailand following findings that the materials were being dumped into the local market at unfairly low prices.
According to a government notice issued on March 19, structural steel imports from China will now attract tariffs of up to 74.98%, while similar imports from Thailand will face duties of 20.32%. The move marks a sharp increase from the provisional anti-dumping measures imposed in 2024, which stood at 52.81% for China and 9.12% for Thailand.
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Authorities say the decision is aimed at protecting the domestic steel industry from unfair competition, which has been blamed for undermining local producers and threatening jobs.
Anti-dumping duties are typically introduced when imported goods are sold below market value, giving foreign producers an advantage over local manufacturers. South Africa’s trade watchdog concluded that such practices were taking place, prompting the government to escalate its response.
The latest tariffs signal Pretoria’s growing willingness to intervene in trade to support local industry, particularly in sectors considered critical to infrastructure development and economic growth.
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