The decision allows Vietnamese exporters to maintain access to the South African market despite new safeguard measures recommended for certain imported steel products.

According to the Trade Remedies Authority under Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, ITAC has issued Report No. 768 containing its final findings in the safeguard investigation into imports of corrosion-resistant steel coil.

The investigation was initiated in late 2024 and formally reviewed in January 2025. Based on import data covering the period from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2024, ITAC concluded that a sharp increase in imports had caused serious injury to the domestic steel industry within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

The commission recommended that South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition impose safeguard duties on certain corrosion-resistant steel coil products with a thickness of less than 0.45mm.

The proposed safeguard tariffs would be phased down over a three-year period, starting at 52.34% in the first year, 37.34% in the second year and 22.34% in the third year.

However, the safeguard measures will not apply to developing countries whose import volumes remain below the threshold established under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

According to the list of excluded countries attached to ITAC's final report, Vietnam's exports fall below the applicable threshold and are therefore exempt from the proposed safeguard duties.

The Trade Remedies Authority said the decision would help preserve market access for Vietnamese corrosion-resistant steel products and support exporters operating in South Africa.

Despite the favourable outcome, the authority cautioned Vietnamese businesses against complacency, noting that safeguard measures may be reviewed and amended periodically.

Exporters were advised to closely monitor South Africa's final implementation decisions, customs guidance and future safeguard reviews, while preparing contingency plans should the scope of the measures change.

Australia launches anti-dumping probe into Vietnamese steel

VOV.VN - Australia has initiated an anti-dumping investigation into galvanised steel imports from Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, with Vietnamese producers Hoa Sen Group and Nam Kim Steel facing alleged dumping margins of up to 56.21%, according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam.