On June 24, the US Trade Commission will begin investigating a complaint filed by major US steel producers seeking anti-dumping duties on rebar imports from producers in four countries, including Egypt and Algeria. This complaint threatens both countries with millions of dollars in losses.
Major US steel producers have filed a complaint against some steel producers in Egypt, Algeria, Bulgaria, and Vietnam, alleging that they are selling rebar in the United States at prices below fair value, benefiting from subsidies and support provided by the governments of these countries, according to the complaint.
The commission will begin investigating the complaint on June 24 and is expected to make a preliminary decision on the complaint by July 21.
The complaint seeks anti-dumping duties on Egyptian imports ranging from 110.9% to 129.8% per ton. While it seeks duties on Algerian imports ranging from 145.1% to 166.3% per ton.
Egyptian and Algerian rebar Exports
The four countries accounted for 49.1% of US rebar imports in 2024, according to US data.
Egypt’s rebar exports amounted to approximately 226,800 tons, valued at $114.7 million. While Algeria exported 100,900 tons, valued at $50.2 million, in 2024, according to US trade data.
The United States was the fourth largest recipient of Egyptian rebar exports last year, according to data from the Egyptian Export Council for Building Materials.
Egypt’s iron and steel exports amounted to $2.25 billion last year, according to the General Organization for Export and Import Control.
Mohamed Hanafi, director of the Egyptian Chamber of Metallurgical Industries, told CNN Economics: “Egyptian steel exporters export their products according to the established global price. He pointed out that the cost of rebar production in Egypt has not decreased after the decline in the value of the Egyptian pound against the dollar, as most production inputs come from abroad. Therefore, producers calculate their costs based on the dollar price.”
The Egyptian Anti-Dumping and Preventive Authority will respond to the American producers’ complaint in accordance with Egyptian law.
The Anti-Dumping Complaint Process
According to US data, the investigation will request detailed information on rebar sales in the United States, domestic market sales, transaction prices, direct sales expenses, transportation and other costs, and production costs during the investigation period. Which will be from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, in Algeria, Bulgaria, and Egypt, and from October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2025, in Vietnam.
The complaint process is scheduled to last for a full year, starting with the investigation this month, followed by the issuance of a preliminary decision a month from now, followed by feedback on the decision from affected parties and government agencies, leading up to the issuance of a final decision in July 2026.
