Egypt’s Trade Remedies Sector at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade has determined that increased imports of certain flat steel products have caused serious injury to the domestic industry, according to a notification submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The finding relates to imports of cold-rolled coil (CRC), galvanized steel (HDG/GI) and pre-painted steel (PPGI). The investigation was initiated on 10 September 2025, covering the period 2022-2024.
Egypt’s investigating authority concluded that rising imports had negatively affected domestic producers, with import volumes increasing from 334,214 tons in 2022 to 621,471 tons in 2024, while the domestic industry’s market share declined significantly during the same period.
The authority also noted a sharp drop in domestic sales and profitability. Domestic sales volumes fell by 39pct in 2023 and 30pct in 2024 compared with 2022 levels, while profits turned into losses in 2024 as imports continued to rise.
Egypt has proposed definitive safeguard measures in the form of an ad valorem tariff combined with a minimum specific duty, to be applied on a non-discriminatory basis to imports from all sources.
The proposed safeguard measure would apply from 2 April 2026 to 13 September 2028, with gradually declining duty rates as follows:
1) Cold Rolled Coil (CRC) – HS codes 720915, 720916, 720917, 720918, 720925, 720926, 720927, 720928, 720990, 721123, 721129, 721190, 722692
13.7pct of CIF value (minimum EGP 4,160 (USD 80)) per ton from 2 Apr 2026-13 Sep 2026
13pct (minimum EGP 4,118 (USD 79)) per ton from 14 Sep 2026-13 Sep 2027
12.5pct (minimum EGP 3,912 (USD 75)) per ton from 14 Sep 2027-13 Sep 2028
2) Galvanized Steel (HDG/GI) – HS codes 721041, 721049, 721230, 721250, 722592, 722699
14pct of CIF value (minimum EGP 4,647 (USD 89)) per ton from 2 Apr 2026-13 Sep 2026
13.5pct (minimum EGP 4,020 (USD 77)) per ton from 14 Sep 2026-13 Sep 2027
13pct (minimum EGP 3,819 (USD 73)) per ton from 14 Sep 2027-13 Sep 2028
3) Pre-painted Steel (PPGI) – HS codes 721070, 721090, 721240, 721260, 722599
14.5pct of CIF value (minimum EGP 5,134 (USD 99)) per ton from 2 Apr 2026-13 Sep 2026
14pct (minimum EGP 4,877 (USD 94)) per ton from 14 Sep 2026-13 Sep 2027
13.5pct (minimum EGP 4,633 (USD 89)) per ton from 14 Sep 2027-13 Sep 2028
Certain specialized coated steel products not produced by the domestic industry will be excluded from the scope. According to the notification, the measure will replace the provisional safeguard currently in place and is intended to remedy injury to the domestic industry and allow time for adjustment. Developing countries with an import share below 3pct, and collectively below 9pct, will be exempt from the measure.
In September 2025, Egypt imposed provisional safeguard duties for 200 days, effective 14 September 2025, setting rates at 11.11pct on cold-rolled coil (minimum EGP 4,152), 12.16pct on galvanized steel (minimum EGP 4,812), and 4.94pct on pre-painted steel (minimum EGP 2,584) a ton.
1 USD / 51.9 EGP
