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Arab Finance: Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid issued a decree imposing safeguard measures on imports of certain steel products for three years, effective April 1st, 2026, as per a statement.
The decision comes in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 161 of 1998 and its executive regulations concerning the protection of the national economy from the effects of harmful practices in international trade.
Final investigations and technical studies have confirmed an increase in imports of some steel products that has negatively impacted the industry.
Between 2021 and 2024, imports of billet jumped by 1,213%, while hot-rolled steel flats hiked by 116%.
Similarly, imports of cold-rolled, galvanized, and colored steel flats surged by 86%.
Under the decree, safeguard duties will be gradually reduced over three years. These include 13.12% on billet at a minimum of $70 per ton, 13.7% on cold-rolled steel at $83 per ton, 14% on galvanized steel at a $93 per ton, 14.5% on colored steel sheets at $122 per ton, and 13.6% on hot-rolled steel at $76 per ton.
In September 2025, the ministry imposed temporary safeguard duties for 200 days following complaints from local companies.
