US turns down South Africa’s appeal for exemptions from imported aluminium and steel tariffs

Among many other countries, South Africa had urged for an exemption from the US imported aluminium and steel tariffs claiming that its metal exports to the US is too marginal to pose any national security threat to the latter nor should affect the aluminium and steel manufacturers there. But unfortunately, the request has been disregarded by the Trump government.

Although the United States has extended the exemptions for Canada, Mexico, and the European Union until June 1, 2018, and has reached agreements for permanent exemptions for Argentina, Australia and Brazil on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, it did not consider South Africa.

South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spokesperson Sidwell Medupe has expressed disappointment on this matter, saying that despite representing only 1.6 per cent of US's total aluminium imports, the United States turned down the request for an exemption. The South African government had also assured the US that it would not pose any problem to other major aluminium and steel producers who ship their products to the US through South Africa because of having an effective customs control.

Nevertheless, Medupe has now urged the domestic aluminium and steel companies who export their products to the US to consider asking for exemptions for their individual products, under a process run by the US Commerce Department rather than the USTR.

Cynthia Harvey, spokesperson for the US Embassy in Pretoria, has also suggested that the opportunity for granting exemptions to South Africa is not yet completely closed. “Countries have discussed with us possible alternative means to address our concern. The president is considering the national security aspects of these alternatives on a case-by-case basis,” said Cynthia Harvey.