The Egyptian Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade has notified the WTO of a proposal to impose a provisional safeguard duty on billet imports.
According to the Ministry’s Trade Remedies Sector (TRS), the duty would be set at 16.2pct, with a minimum specific duty of EGP 4,613 (USD 96) per ton. TRS launched the investigation on 10 September 2025.
TRS said billet imports surged by 643pct in 2022 compared to 2021, fell by 14pct in 2023, and then jumped again by 227pct in 2024. Over 2021-2024, cumulative imports rose by 1,976pct. Relative to domestic production, imports followed the same pattern, up 612pct in 2022, down 14pct in 2023, and up 227pct in 2024. These increases were described as “recent, sudden, sharp, and significant.”
The surge was attributed to unforeseen global developments, including persistent billet oversupply, slowing demand in key markets, and widespread use of trade remedies and tariffs in major importing countries. These measures restricted traditional export destinations, diverting excess supply to more open markets such as Egypt.
TRS concluded that the 2024 surge posed serious injury to domestic producers and warned that any delay in imposing measures would cause damage that would be difficult to repair.
The safeguard duty is scheduled to take effect on 14 September 2025 upon publication in the Official Gazette and will remain in force for 200 days. 1 USD / 48.2 EGP
