Lifeline on the cards for South Africa’s steel industry

• The International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) has appealed to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for better protection for South Africa's steel industry, which could lead to temporary restrictions on steel imports.
• The appeal comes after ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) reported substantial losses due to cheap steel imports, with the company arguing that rising imports have drastically reduced its sales and market share.
• If the investigation finds that the increase in imports is causing harm to local production, it could shift the harm further down the supply chain, affecting smaller manufacturers and potentially increasing production costs and job losses.