South
Africa Initiates Safeguard Investigation into Imports of Non-Wired Float Glass,
Indian Exports Too will be Affected
On 11 November 2026, South Africa notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards
regarding the initiation on 3 November 2026 of a safeguard investigation into
imports of certain non-wired float glass products.
WTO
Notification: G/SG/N/6/ZAF/15 dated 11 November 2026.
1.
Investigation Initiated:
o
South Africa initiated a safeguard investigation on
3 November 2026 into imports of non-wired float glass products.
o
The initiation notice was published in Government
Gazette No. 55666.
2.
Products Covered:
o
Non-wired glass, coloured throughout the mass
(body-tinted), opacified, flashed or merely surface-ground.
o
Other non-wired glass.
o
Covered under the following HS tariff subheadings:
§ 7005.21: 10
specified tariff subheadings.
§ 7005.29: 10
specified tariff subheadings.
o
Exclusions: Optical glass and solar glass, as
specified in the notification.
3.
Applicant:
o
PFG Building Glass filed the application.
o
It is the only producer of the subject products
in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), representing 100% of domestic
production.
4.
Allegation of Import Surge:
o
The applicant alleged a sharp, sudden and
significant increase in imports, both in absolute terms and relative to
domestic production.
o
The Commission identified prima facie evidence of
an import surge during 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.
5.
Evidence of Serious Injury:
o
Injury investigation period: 1 December 2022 to
30 November 2025.
o
The domestic industry reportedly suffered:
§ Decline
in sales volumes.
§ Decline
in production/output.
§ Loss of
market share.
§ Decline
in net profits.
§ Lower
capacity utilisation.
§ Decline
in productivity.
o
The Commission found prima facie evidence of
serious injury and a causal link with increased imports.
6.
Reasons for Unforeseen Developments:
The applicant cited the following factors:
o
Global oversupply:
Expansion of Chinese float-glass production capacity and weak domestic/global
demand.
o
China's WTO accession:
Subsequent growth in Chinese production and exports, supported by alleged
government subsidies.
o
Chinese investments in Africa:
Expansion of manufacturing facilities in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania.
o
Trade diversion: US anti-dumping duties exceeding
150% and countervailing duties on Chinese float glass redirected exports
towards other markets.
o
Tariff differences: Tanzania
imposed 35% import duty, whereas SACU's bound rate is 10%, with 0% under SADC
and AfCFTA arrangements.
o
Improved transportation:
Containerisation, specialised stillage racks, better packaging and declining
shipping costs have made long-distance glass exports commercially viable.
7.
Legal Basis:
o
Investigation initiated under Article 12.1(a) of
the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.
o
The application also invokes Article XIX of GATT
1994 concerning unforeseen developments.
8.
Comments by Interested Parties:
o
Interested parties must register and submit
comments within 20 days from initiation (3 November 2026).
o
Written submissions and requests for hearings must
be submitted to South Africa's International Trade Administration Commission
(ITAC).
Effect of
this Notification
·
South Africa has initiated a safeguard
investigation into specified non-wired float glass imports.
·
The investigation will examine whether increased
imports have caused serious injury to the domestic industry.
·
No safeguard duty or other restrictive measure has
been imposed at this stage.
·
Exporters and importers of the covered products should
monitor the investigation and participate within the prescribed 20-day period.
Source:
WTO Safeguards Notification G/SG/N/6/ZAF/15 dated 11 November 2026. N6ZAF15
[ABS News Service/12.11.2026]
In the notification, South
Africa indicated, among other things, as follows:
"Interested parties
must make themselves known and provide comments within a period of 20 days
after the initiation of the investigation.
Any information that the
interested parties may wish to submit in writing and any request for a hearing
before the Commission that they may wish to put forward should be submitted
within 20 days following the initiation of this investigation to the
Directorate: Trade Remedies II at the following address: The DTI Campus, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside Pretoria, Block E, Ground floor
or directly to the investigating officers, Ms Portia Chuma
at email: pchuma@itac.org.za or Ms Azwitamisi Mathada at email: amathada@itac.org.za.
If part of the information provided
is of a confidential nature, the party concerned should give the grounds
justifying confidentiality and furnish public summaries of such information,
which should be as detailed as possible. In instances that a public summary
cannot be provided a sworn statement must be provided stating the reasons why
the information cannot be summarized. This requirement is designed to secure
transparency and due access by all parties to the information relating to this
investigation. If the summaries are not duly provided and in the absence of
just cause, ITAC may disregard the information deemed to be confidential."
The notification is
available in G/SG/N/6/ZAF/15.
A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased
imports of a product are causing, or are threatening to cause, serious injury
to a domestic industry.
During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other
interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the
presentations of other parties.
A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of
a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found
to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.