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blogs posted so far
Let’s have those difficult transformation conversations
No idea should be off the menu for discussion, but Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Employment Equity (EE) are two inter-related topics which we seem to really struggle to discuss. Stephen Grootes correctly identifies, this…
Unmasking confidentiality in Ministerial decision making
Unless you were one of the litigants, the most important part of Wina Njalo(RF) Proprietary Limited v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others (2025/039592) [2025] ZAGPPHC 517 (21 May 2025) is how to consider…
ITAC initiated an investigation into the alleged dumping of clear float glass imported from Tanzania
On 6 June 2025 ITAC initiated an anti-dumping investigation on clear float glass classifiable under tariff subheadings 7005.29.17, 7005.29.23, 7005.29.25 and 7005.29.35, that originate in, or was imported from the United Republic of Tanzania. This is…
ITAC is reviewing the list of qualifying materials under the APDP
ITAC is considering amending the rules for the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP) to support battery manufacturing. The thinking goes that we have special rocks in South Africa which are now in demand and if we…
SARS Implements Provisional Anti-Dumping Duties on Tyres from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia
On 29 May 2025, SARS implemented provisional anti-dumping duties on new pneumatic tyres imported from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. This follows an anti-circumvention investigation initiated by ITAC into allegations of “country hopping” by Chinese tyre producers…
When will the Competition Commission investigate the taxi industry?
2022 was the last time the Competition Commission carried out a dawn raid, targeting insurance companies in the Western Cape and KZN. According to Norton Rose Fulbright Dawn raids are an effective tool used by regulators…
Russia challenges EU’s CBAM
In May 2025, the geopolitical tensions between the European Union (EU) and Russia extended to the global trade space, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) being used as the battlefield. This time around these two trade…
Expansion of Footwear Duty Investigation to Include Safety Footwear
On 22 May 2025, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) announced an expansion to the scope of its self-initiated investigation regarding the customs duty rate on various footwear products under Chapter 64 of the Customs and…
South Africa’s Proposed Regulation of Blank Guns
The South African Government Gazette (Vol. 719, No. 52697, dated 19 May 2025) outlines proposed measures to address the importation of blank guns. This move is in response to concerns about the increasing misuse of these…
Understanding the New ITAC Administrative Fees Guidelines: What you need to know
On 16 May 2025, ITAC published an important Gazette proposing Administrative Fees for processing various permits. This marks a significant development in how ITAC will recover costs related to its functions, including processing permits and certificates…
The forced local discounts on scrap steel are being reviewed! Yaayyy
Minister Tau issued a policy directive to ITAC instructing them to review the Price Preference System (PPS) on scrap steel. The PPS is a sneaky subsidy programme which forces generators of scrap metal to subsidise the…
An application for an increase in the dollar-based reference price (DBRP) for wheat
Grain SA and the South African Cereal and Oilseed Trade Association (SACOTA) brought the application for the increase in the Dollar-based Reference Price (DBRP) on wheat, classifiable under tariff subheading 1101.00.10. In their application, the applicants…
Steel Safeguard Duties: 13% Today, 9% by 2027
South Africa is rolling out a phased plan for safeguard duties on certain hot-rolled steel products—starting with a 13% duty as of 2 May 2025, then reducing it to 11% in 2026, and finally to 9%…
More US section 232 investigations underway – WTF is going on?
The US government has initiated six section 232 investigations since the start of 2025 (nine if you count steel, aluminium and automotive, which saw duties change or implemented without a new investigation). Frustratingly, we are not…
Who actually gets government support in the steel sector?
ArcelorMittal South Africa (Amsa) burnt through R1.9 billion in 2024, which I think we can all agree, is a lot of money, especially for a company with a market capitalisation of R1.1 billion, raising their total…
ITAC has just initiated a very big renewable energy tariff, localisation and import / export review
ITAC just spoiled your next long weekend because you now need to attend our free webinar on the brand new review of the renewable energy value chain. It covers R59 billion worth of imports, under 82…
Environmental levy adjustments on carbon emissions.
The South African government amended Part 3F of Schedule 1 of the Customs and Excise Act of 1964 on 11 April 2025, as published in Government Gazette no. 52491. This amendment adjusted environmental levy items 157.01,…
Caustic soda rebate, duty increase application on grooved steel couplings and rock drilling parts
Caustic soda rebate created If you import caustic soda to make soda lye, then you can now not pay the duties on caustic soda, by using the new manufacturing rebate. Click here for more information on…
Customs Update: Revised Import Duties on Wheat and Sugar
On 4 April 2025, the South African Ministry of Finance introduced significant tariff amendments to wheat, wheat flour, and sugar. The duties on wheat were reduced from 42.20c/kg to 18.35c/kg and on wheat flour from 63.29c/kg…
The Trump Thump. What now US dollar?
With a stroke of his fat koki pen, President Trump has done more to harm the dollar’s reserve status than anything Xi, Putin or anyone else could do. Although its reserve status was an outcome of…
Approval of Caustic Soda rebate!
On the 4 April 2025, ITAC published an amendment of Schedule 3 of the Customs and Excise Act of 1964 granting a full duty rebate on sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) under tariff heading 2815.11 African Chemicals…
Trump imposes 30% tariff on South African exports!
This is very bad indeed. XA will be doing analysis on this over the next few days, but in the interim here are my initial views. We’ll put out something more polished a little later. Oh,…
After this review, our steel industry will not look the same
Government policies are an attempt to change how the market behaves (importing too much? Let’s impose an import duty.) When government, in 2012, decided to move money from packaging companies, car makers, and steel fabricators to…
Another anti-dumping investigation on steel!
It has been a year for the steel industry, and we are still in March! Following last week’s announcement of the biggest ever tariff review on steel (read more here), ITAC is back with another initiation.…
Massive promised steel tariff (and much more) review kicks off!
ITAC have just initiated the biggest tariff review in their 22 year history, on steel. This is about much more than just tariffs, but it most definitely also includes tariffs. The scope of the review is…
Provisional anti-dumping duties imposed on fasteners from China
On 26 July 2024 ITAC initiated an anti-dumping investigation on set screws and hexagon bolts classifiable under tariff subheadings 7213.15.39 and 7318.15.49, from China. Although a number of producers of the subject product in China responded…
R2.5 billion roasted groundnut industry closes because a decision could not be taken on their tariff application
A customs tariff increase application on roasted groundnut imports classifiable under subheadings 2008.11.20 and 2008.11.90 from 0.99c/kg (0.033% ad valorem equivalent) to 20% was withdrawn by the South African Groundnuts Forum because they have closed their…
Sunset review of anti-dumping duties on Disodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) originating in or imported from the USA
The International Trade Administration Commission initiated a sunset review of anti-dumping duties imposed on Disodium Carbonate (Soda ash), tariff subheading 2836.20, originating from the United States of America, on the 07 March 2025. There have been…
Alleged circumvention of anti-dumping duties on windscreens from China
On 7 March 2025, ITAC initiated an investigation into the alleged circumvention of anti-dumping duties on windscreens for vehicles, classifiable under tariff subheading 7007.21.20, imported from China for use as replacement glass. Additionally, an investigation into…
US trade policy (or the lack of): aggressive trade policy approach
A 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada was effected on 4 March 2025 with the exception of Canadian energy, which was charged at a lower rate of 10%. An additional 10% has also been imposed on…