Crushing steel tariffs spark fierce industry legal battle

Gerhard Papenfus, chief executive of the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa), has perfected the sweet science of switching styles between lobbying Washington officials about farm murders and black economic empowerment policies, and throwing legal power punches at government trade bureaucrats over what he calls an assault on the steel industry.

- By Lindsey Schutters

Papenfus recently returned from the US, saying that the stateside officials believe the South African government is “not listening” and is “playing games”.

In April, Neasa opened its fight against the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac), threatening urgent legal action if the trade body proceeded with what Papenfus calls “the largest tariff, duty and import measures review in Itac’s 22-year history”.