Egypt imposes provisional safeguard duty on billet and rebar imports
The Egyptian government has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it has imposed a provisional safeguard duty on steel billet and rebar imports for a period of 180 days starting from April 15. Egypt will collect up to 15 percent duty on billet imports and 25 percent duty on rebar imports. According to the notification made to the WTO, imports from developing countries shall not be subject to the proposed provisional safeguard measure as... Read More
IREPAS in Barcelona : Protectionism, raw materials and Turkey top the agenda
The 80th meeting of IREPAS (International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association) was held in Barcelona, Spain on April 7-9, 2019. There were 132 producer representatives among the 416 registered delegates from a total of 48 different countries. There were also 70 registrations representing 40 different raw material suppliers. At the opening of the conference Murat Cebecioglu, chairman of IREPAS, said that IREPAS firmly believes in, has supported... Read More
CITT has not recommended final safeguard duty for rebar or wire rods
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has recommended final safeguard duties for only two steel products, i.e., heavy plate and stainless steel wire, from among the seven steel products that have already been subject to provisional safeguard duties since October 2018. For the remaining five products, the CITT has either found no increase in imports or found that imports have not harmed the Canadian steel industry. In October 2018, Canada... Read More
EU quota for “other countries” now open to all
As of April 1, 2019, the European Commission’s steel import quotas for “other countries” have become accessible to all countries, while the unused quotas of “other countries” for the February 2-March 31 period have also become accessible to all countries which have used up their own quotas for the period. Accordingly “other countries” import quotas, for the period between April 1 and June 30, stand at 133,004 mt for rebar, and at 74,518... Read More
Short Range Outlook : March 2019
Positive mood prevails in global long steel products market despite virus of protectionism The global long steel products market is currently in a positive mood amid good demand worldwide. Had there not been protectionist actions like additional tariffs, quotas or safeguard measures, the global business scenario would be much better. Protectionism is like a virus, expanding and hurting the international trade environment as we knew it. Canada and... Read More
Canada exempts Mexico from safeguard measures on wire rod imports
Canadian finance minister Bill Morneau has exempted NAFTA ally Mexico from controversial safeguard measures on imports of energy tubular products and wire rod, as reported by Canada-based CBC News. Accordingly, the imports of these products from Mexico will no longer cost an extra 25 percent, effective as of February 2, 2019. The duties already paid by Mexican steel purchasers will be refunded. Finance minister Morneau’s spokesperson Pierre-Olivier... Read More
Short Range Outlook : February 2019
Price levels improve in global long steel products market despite uncertainties Prices in the global long steel products market are better compared to our last report, though there is a certain degree of uncertainty regarding how sustainable the current price levels are. The situation has gotten worse generally in terms of demand and supply, as there seems to be a general worsening of expectations and the numbers coming in do not bode well. Brazilian... Read More
EU announces definitive safeguard measures on steel imports
The European Commission has announced final measures on steel imports. Accordingly, a tariff-rate quota will be applicable for the period February 2, 2019 to June 30, 2019, thereafter, for the period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, and, thereafter, for the period July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The European Commission said that, since the duration of the measures is for over a year, the measures must be progressively liberalized at regular intervals... Read More
European Parliament voted in favor of safeguard measures
The European Parliament voted today in favor of the proposed safeguard measures against steel imports. Accordingly, the European Commission is expected to finalize the procedure and measures are expected to enter into force in early February. The proposed measures envisage import quotas for a period between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 and that the quota volumes will be increased by five percent for the period between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. The... Read More
Short Range Outlook : January 2019
Is globalization of the world’s long steel products market now at an end? The global long steel products market is heading towards a more complicated and difficult period as the globalization of the steel business is being rewound amid a clash between liberal and protectionist trade policies that are somehow tied to political ups and downs between world leaders. It seems that global business will be relatively quiet as long as protective measures... Read More