The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry has noted with concern that the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has been excluded as a direct participant from the “Steel Committee” that was set up after concerns in the industry around the price of steel and its impact on the manufacturing sector.

Committee Chairperson, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs, today said the Committee is especially concerned about the long delay in establishing the “Steel Committee”. The Committee further noted that the dti has only been given an observer status on the “Steel Committee” that was appointed by the Minister of Economic Development as provided for in the International Trade Administration Act. The Committee had hoped that a representative from the dti would be appointed to the “Steel Committee”. “We expressed our disappointment that the dti is not represented on the Committee. It is our view that an observer status is not desirable,” said Ms Fubbs.

She said the Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee raised concerns about the steel price from as early as 2014 and repeatedly in 2015 and 2016. Ms Fubbs said: “Therefore the Committee would like to inquire about the rationale for the exclusion of the dti. The Committee would further like to request that the Minister of Trade and Industry engage the Minister of Economic Development on the matter – and that the decision to exclude the dti as part of the “Steel Committee” be reviewed as this has a direct impact on the work of the dti.”

Ms Fubbs indicated that the Committee has written a letter to the Minister of Trade and Industry in this regard.

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Ms Joanmariae Fubbs