The argument by South African steel exporters that they acted responsibly in their trade relations with other countries had been vindicated by the US International Trade Commission, said Iscor’s representative affairs executive Phaldie Kalam.
Kalam was commenting on a judgment by the ITC to reject claims of dumping by US steel manufacturers against South Africa and 12 other steel exporters in respect of tubular steel products.
He said the decision confirmed that South Africa’s steel exports were sold at fair value to its American customers and exonerated the country from the accusation that it had caused injury to the US market.
The ITC decision effectively terminates their investigation on the basis that ”there is no reasonable indication that the US industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of tubular goods.”
Said Kalam: ”While we are delighted with the decision, we continue to remain weary of spurious attempts to cumulate South Africa with other foreign exporters who may have breached the relevant import threshold levels and thereby link us to injury allegations.”
At the outset of the US dumping allegations he said it would be difficult to substantiate the accusation because of limited volumes of South African tubular steel exports to the US.
”The South African steel industry monitors its steel exports to foreign countries to ensure that we do not cause injury by keeping our total exports below an acceptable threshold level.
”While these accusations receive a high level of visibility, every decision which goes in our favour allows us to build up a track record which is taken into consideration next time allegations are made.” – Sapa