On May 16, 2025, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC), on behalf of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), announced its final determination of the safeguard measures on certain flat hot-rolled steel products, deciding to impose a definitive safeguard measure on imports of the subject products for three years, valid on May 2, 2025.

The duty rate is 13% for the first year, 11% for the second year, and 9% for the third year.

The products involved are certain hot-rolled flat-rolled products of iron, non-alloy steel, or other alloy steel (excluding stainless steel), whether in coils, cut-to-length, or narrow strip, and not clad, plated, or coated, excluding grain-oriented silicon electrical steel. These products are classified under HS codes 7208.10, 7208.25, 7208.26, 7208.27, 7208.36, 7208.37, 7208.38, 7208.39, 7208.40, 7208.51, 7208.52, 7208.53, 7208.54, 7208.90, 7211.14, 7225.30, 7225.40, 7225.99, and 7226.99.

This safeguard measure will not apply to some developing countries, including Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam, and so forth.