Australian steel makers have urged the federal government for emergency trade relief measures amid an increase in low-priced imported fabricated steelwork.
The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) has lodged a Safeguard application with the federal government asking for temporary emergency provisions to protect the domestic industry.
The application presents a case for emergency trade relief measures to address a crisis of import penetration that has placed the Australian fabricated structural steel industry at risk.
ASI CEO Mark Cain said the unprecedented surge in imports threatens the viability of domestic manufacturing capacity.
The ASI said more than a dozen steel fabrication businesses have closed in the western Sydney area alone in the last 18 months due to increased competition from low-priced fabricated structural steel imports. It is estimated that the national impact is at least three to four times greater than this.
Safeguard measures are emergency actions that are implemented where a surge of imports threatens serious material injury to a domestic industry.
The ASI argues that the imposition of Safeguard measures will result in an increase in productivity for Australian industry by preserving essential manufacturing capability and maintaining competitive market conditions.
The implementation of such measures would also prevent the erosion of critical steelmaking assets and support Australia’s manufacturing capability for critical defence projects.
The ASI is urging the government to ensure that the process for implementing the Safeguard measures is done with the utmost urgency, given the critical nature of this issue for its members.