16 October 2026 was a busy day for the paper industry.
Increase in general customs duties
First, SARS published an amendment to Part 1 of Schedule No.1, the ordinary customs duties for tariff subheading 4801.00, newsprint, in rolls or sheets. The general customs duty of the product was increased from 0% to 5%.
Implementation of provisional safeguard duties
Finally, SARS also implemented provisional safeguard duties of 21% on office paper, classifiable under tariff subheadings 4802.56.20 and 4802.56.90.
The safeguard investigation was initiated on 5 June 2026, with an application brought by Mondi South Africa (Pty) Ltd, who is a major producer of the subject product in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The application was also supported by Sappi Southern Africa Limited, the other manufacturer of the subject product.
These duties are provisional and will remain in place until 3 May 2027, while Itac completes the investigation. At the end of the process, Itac will decide whether final safeguard duties should be imposed for the next three years.
If the final duties are not imposed by 3 May 2027, any provisional duties paid will be refundable to the importers.