Duty decrease on wheat
There is some relief for wheat importers as there has been a decrease in rate of duty on these products. This duty decrease took effect on 21 August. Here is a list of the affected tariff codes and…
Application for rebate of duty on certain plastic sheets for use in the manufacture of acrylic sanitaryware
Libra Bathroom have brought an application for a full rebate of duty on “Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip of poly (methyl methacrylate), non-cellular and not reinforced, laminated supported or similar combined with other materials, classifiable…
Duty increase application on Polyurethane prepolymers
National Urethane Industries has brought a duty increase application on Polyurethane Prepolymers, classifiable under tariff subheading 3909.50, from zero to 10%, by way of creating an additional 8-digit tariff subheading under tariff heading 39.09, which reads…
Mercy time is over …
The debate on the necessity and content of clearance instructions that must be submitted to customs brokers by importers and exporters was put to bed in terms of the specific requirements now contained in the Customs…
China’s impact on SA’s trade policy
This article was published in Business Day today, and deals with the growing influence of China on SA’s trade policy. http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2015/08/18/sa-must-not-seek-chinas-say-so-on-trade Irrespective of whether you feel SA should be opening or closing our markets (moving duties…
Voluntary disclosure – Good and bad news!
Want the good news first? – in terms of a proposed amendment to the Tax Administration Act voluntary disclosure relief will in future include relief of late payment penalties (for example the 10% late payment penalty…
The state of duty protection in South Africa
This article was published in Engineering News on the 14th of August. It deals with tariff related remedies that may be available to address the challenges facing distressed manufacturers. It also provides a high level overview of duty protection…
New tariff investigation regulations implemented
The Department of Economic Development has released updated tariff investigation regulations. Below is a summary of the big changes flowing out the updated regulations. The changes are effective from 31 July 2015. Use of external advisors…
HPAI outbreak in Germany
There has been an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Germany. The following products are subject to trade restrictions: Live poultry, pigeons and other birds Eggs (excluding SPF eggs) Fresh (including frozen) poultry meat…
Launch of a Namibian trade portal
The Namibia’s Ministry of Finance and Namibia’s Customs & Excise, in partnership with the U.S. government has recently launched a powerful new tool to increase and facilitate cross-border trade. The web-based platform provides a “one–stop shop”…
Interview about protectionism on SAFM
I was interviewed on SAFM this week, about protectionism and whether it works or not. Here is the interview.
USA finding of dumping and subsidies on Chinese tyres
This week, the USA International Trade Commission found that China was dumping tyres into the USA market and that such dumping was causing injury to the domestic tyre industry. They also found Chinese subsidisation of tyres…
HPAI outbreak in the UK – import ban
There has been an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the UK. The following products are subject to trade restrictions: Live poultry, pigeons and other birds Eggs (excluding SPF eggs) Fresh (including frozen) poultry…
Cabinet approves new IDZ outside Harrismith in the Freestate
During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, 24 June 2015 Cabinet ratified the decision to designate the Maluti-A-Phofung Industrial Development Zone (MAP IDZ) at Tshiame, about 10km from Harrismith in the Freestate province. According to Minister Jeff…
Guidelines pertaining to rebate of the duty on certain fabrics
Guidelines pertaining to rebate of the duty on various rebate provisions in terms of the Customs and Excise Act have been released by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC). Below are the descriptions of the rebate…
Creation of new 8 digit tariff codes
Once a year SARS allows companies to request the creation of new tariff codes to provide greater detail to the tariff book. This is particularly important for manufacturers who may wish to bring some sort of…
Another duty increase on wheat
Duties on wheat have been increased again, effective immediately. The tariff codes that are impacted are listed below, along with the details of the duty increases from 2014 to date. Tariff subheading Description 10 October 2014 change 31…
Anti-dumping duties due to expire over the next year
The following anti-dumping duties will expire in the course of the next 6 months, if the domestic industry does no apply for a sunset review. Product Country Existing AD duty Date of imposition of the duties…
Review of the rebate on BOPP film used to manufacture self-adhesive tape
ITAC have initiated a review of the rebate of duty on Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) film, used in the manufacture of self-adhesive tape of subheading 3919.10. This is quite an old rebate and ITAC wish to…
Application for a rebate on knitted pile fabrics
Procall Consulting have brought an application for a rebate of duty on Knitted pile fabrics, other, of 100% polyester fibres, classifiable under subheading 6001.92 for use in the manufacture of other furnishing articles classifiable under tariff…
Duty reduction application on certain passenger vehicles
Smith Mining Equipment brought an application to reduce the duties on Diesel, petrol and electric passenger vehicles not exceeding 800kg; diesel goods vehicles not exceeding 1 100kg and petrol and electric goods vehicles exceeding 800kg, from…
Questions answered about the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement
The Tripartite Free Trade Agreement has been signed, but what does this mean? How long before benefits are actually realised? These questions and more were posed to me on Winslyn on Tuesday evening. Hopefully the video…
The Tripartite Free Trade Agreement has been signed
Yesterday, the leaders of SADC, the EAC and Comesa met in Egypt and finally signed the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, which aims to ultimately create a free trade area from South Africa up the east coast…
Another duty increase on sugar
Duties on sugar have been increased again, with immediate effect. The tariff codes impacted are: 1701.12 (Beet sugar) 1701.13 and 1701.14 (Cane sugar) 1701.91 (Containing flavouring or colouring) 1701.99 (Other sugar) The duties have been increase…
Deferment accounts stay as they are – for now!
In February 2015 the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published a communication proposing a fixed deferment period of one calendar month (except for the month of March) for all deferment account holders and that payment of…
AGOA has been implemented, but…
AGOA has finally been signed off and yes, South Africa does benefit, but South Africa’s treatment has certainly not been the same as the other beneficiaries. The USA is clearly uncomfortable about the South African anti-dumping…
Provisional Anti-dumping Duties imposed on Ordinary Portland Cement
Provisional anti-dumping duties have been imposed on Ordinary Portland Cement from Pakistan, imported under tariff code 2523.29, with immediate effect. The duties imposed are determined by manufacturer as follows: ITAC has once again calculated a residual duty…
Duty increase application on large bore welded steel pipes
Hall Longmore have brought an application to increase the duties on large bore welded steel pipe classifiable under tariff headings 73.03, 73.04, 73.05 and 73.06 from free of duty in some cases and 10% duty in…
AGOA becoming a really big stick
There has been an interesting development around AGOA, with the USA proposing an amendment to the legislation that will allow them to selectively suspend or limit the benefits of certain countries. In the previous incarnation of…
New WTO panel decision on technical barriers to trade
The WTO has just issued its decision in the dispute between the USA and Mexico on certain technical barriers to trade. Mexico alleges the USA was putting certain barriers in place to unfairly restrict Mexico’s trade…