The Competition Commission’s ‘Guidelines on collaboration between competitors on localisation initiatives’ have entered into operation
You might have missed this because of load-shedding and the latest round of petrol price increases, but the Competition Commission quietly published the 'Guidelines on collaboration between competitors on localisation initiatives' (Guidelines) on 18 March 2022, which...
PPS to be implemented on top of export duties on scrap metal
There is nothing good about this. The Price Preference System (PPS), forces a discount into the sale of scrap metal when sold locally and now the export duty will levy a large tax on the export of scrap. It is not clear how the recycling sector is to generate a...
Duty increase application on sulphates, alums, peroxides of copper
Kimleigh Chemicals have applied for a duty increase on the above products, imported under tariff code 2833.25, from zero to 10%. I have no idea what these are used for, but based on their website, either mining, fertiliser, pesticides or animal feed. The reasons given...
IMplementation of the export duties on scrap metal
On 1 August 2021 an export duty will become payable on scrap metal exported from South Africa. The export duty will be payable on both imported and locally procured metals and includes exports to all countries, except those countries which benefit from trade...
Yet another (intimidating) textile rebate
Thank goodness in this case it's nothing important. Only the use of fabrics used to make wadding, gauze and bandages. The fabrics without the rebate, attract a 22% duty, which is a lot. The actual description is a very wordy Rebate of the full duty on woven fabrics of...
Anti-dumping duties removed on frozen potato chips
It's 5 months late, but (finally!) the anti-dumping duties on frozen potato chips from Belgium and the Netherlands have been removed. It's actually more than 5 months late, as the anti-dumping duties expired on 26 January 2021. Fortunately the removal has been...
Minister Patel wants to extend the preferential pricing system (PPS) on scrap on top of scrap export duties
The PPS prohibits the export of scrap metal unless it has first been offered to the scrap consuming industry at a substantial discount. If local buyers make an offer at the PPS price of more this must be accepted. PPS was due to be replaced by an export duty on scrap...
Safeguard duties on hot-rolled steel to terminate in August 2021
The safeguard duties on hot-rolled steel were meant to terminate on 17 August 2020, but ITAC and Minister Patel decided to extend them beyond their termination date. Macsteel challenged this decision and a settlement was reached with the Minister, on the day of the...
ANTI-DUMPING SUNSET REVIEW ON POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (‘PET’) FROM CHINESE TAIPEI, INDIA AND SOUTH KOREA
Safripol, the monopoly producer of, PET requested the anti-dumping duties on PET from Taiwan, South Korea and India be extended by another 5 years. The sunset review investigation was initiated on 18 June 2021. According to the initiation notice, the PET under review...
ANTI-DUMPING SUNSET REVIEW INITIATED ON UNFRAMED GLASS MIRRORS FROM INDIA
When anti-dumping duties are imposed, they remain in place for 5 years, at which point they expire unless a sunset review is initiated. In South Africa this means that the current anti-dumping duties will remain in place until the sunset review investigation is...
Duty increase requested on shower doors
Finestra Shower Doors, a division of Casso Cabinets (Pty) Ltd, has applied for a duty increase on shower doors classified under tariff subheading 7610.10, from 10% to 15% ad valorem and shower doors classified under 7020.00 from free to 15% ad valorem, by creating...
Application for a rebate of duty on chicken
Matador Slagtery requested a rebate of duty on boneless leg quarters imported under tariff subheading 0207.14.15, which attracts a 42% duty. If they succeed with their application, imports of boneless leg quarters will not attract the duty at times when the local...
Worrying conditions attached to the rebate of duties on fabrics used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture
I don't like it. ITAC have published the guidelines, rules and conditions pertaining to fabrics imported under rebate of duty, for use in the manufacture of upholstered furniture and they worry me. This rebate exists because the textiles covered by the rebate are not...
(More) litigation against ITAC and Minister Patel
Papers have been served on ITAC and Minister Patel to compel the Minister to remove the anti-dumping duties on frozen potato chips from Belgium and the Netherlands. The legal issue is simple. Once an anti-dumping investigation initiates, it must be completed within 18...
rebate created for wARp knit fabrics used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture
On 28 May 2021 amendments to Part 1 of Schedule No. 3 was published for rebate item 320.01/6005.3/01.05, to create a rebate facility for warp knit fabrics classifiable in tariff heading 60.05, for use in the manufacture of upholstered furniture. Duties within tariff...
Application for a rebate on Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide is a chemical that makes things white. Paints, plastics and so on. Ferro South Africa (a chemical, not a steel company), applied for a rebate on titanium oxide (tariff code 3206.11) used in the manufacture of white masterbatch (tariff code...
Amendment and creation of rebates on certain textiles
On 21 May 2021, ITAC published an investigation for the amendment and creation rebate facilities under rebate item 311.42. The products covered include other woven fabrics of cotton; woven fabrics of flax; woven fabric of synthetic staple fibres; woven fabrics of...
Amendment to the Preferential Pricing System (PPS) for scrap metal. Again.
Yet another change to the PPS rules. For a system due to euthanised on 1 August 2021, when export duties on scrap metal are imposed, an inordinate amount of tinkering is still happening. Tinkering designed, as always, to transfer ever more value from the recyclers to...
Request to extend the safeguard duties on fully threaded screws with hexagon heads
These are known as set screws. I don't why, because they are not sold in sets nor do they much resemble screws. More like a bolt with the fully shank threaded. These set screws currently attract a 30% normal customs duty, plus an additional 45.61% safeguard duty,...
Duties increased on foot operated grease guns
On 8 May 2020, Gurtech (Pty) Ltd applied for a duty increase on foot-operated grease guns. On 21 May 2021, this duty increase was granted by way of creating a new tariff code (8479.89.50) for this product, increasing the duty from free to 10%. Gurtech is the only...
Duties increased on wheat and flour
The duties have been increased on wheat and flour have increased as follows: The duty increase applies to all regions besides SADC, which remains duty-free. The duties on wheat are automatically triggered based on the global price of wheat, so this...
Duties removed on helmets used for motorsports
The duties have been removed on helmets used in motorsports, both for motorcycle and motorboat activities. This has been done by way of creating a new tariff code (6506.10.20), splitting this out of the prior "Other" code, which attracted a 25% duty and placing it at...
Request to reduce duties on stemming plugs
ERG Industrial (Pty) Ltd applied for a duty reduction, from 20% ad valorem to free of duty, on “stemming plugs for mining and civil blast holes”, classifiable under the new tariff subheading 3926.90.90. Reasons for the application There is no manufacturing industry...
Provisional anti-dumping duties imposed on pasta
Provisional anti-dumping duties were imposed on pasta, imported under tariff codes 1902.11 and 1902.19, manufactured in Egypt, Latvia, Lithuania and Turkey, on 1 April 2021 and will remain in place until 16 September 2021. If the anti-dumping investigation concludes...
Review of the tariff structure of the poultry industry
Minister Patel has issued a directive to ITAC to review the tariff structure for poultry classifiable under tariff heading 0207.1 (all fresh and frozen chicken varieties). According to the gazette, the Minister directed ITAC to "review the entire tariff structure for...
