The Egyptian government has dismissed dumping charges made against Turkish steel imports for lack of evidence. Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Samir Al-Sayad approved recommendations by the country’s anti-dumping committees, whose report concluded that there was no need to impose protective measures against Turkish rebars.

Investigations regarding the alleged dumping of Turkish steel in the Egyptian market began six months ago after the Egyptian Chamber of Metallurgical Industries requested the imposition of dumping tariffs following complaints by the country’s six major rebar producers. However, the anti-dumping committee concluded that local producers did not suffer from cheaper or more competitive Turkish steel imports.
Supporting reports indicated that when Turkish rebar imports to Egypt peaked in 2008-2009, the local steel industry was not affected and had a healthy performance. Similarly, local producers did not benefit from a 78 percent drop in Turkish rebar imports in 2009-2010.

Commenting on the ministry’s decision, Ahmed Al-Zini, head of the building material division at the chamber of industry, who is also a Turkish steel importer, said it would restrict market monopoly by Ezz Steel, Egypt’s largest steel producer. He added that the decision was only expected and was fair in the absence of any evidence on dumping.