Egypt has imposed temporary import tariffs on steel from China, Turkey and Ukraine, the trade ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The tariff will be set at 17 percent for Chinese steel, 10-19 percent for Turkish steel, and 15-27 percent for Ukrainian steel, it said.

"The decision comes following a thorough study... and is intended to protect local manufacturing from harmful practices by imported alternatives," Trade Minister Tarek Kabil said in the statement.