On 19 March 2026, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) extended an invitation to comment on its proposed application for an increase in the rate of customs duty on newsprints, in rolls or sheets, classifiable in tariff subheading 4801.00, from free of duty to 5% ad valorem duty, on which comment is due by 16 April 2026.
The application was submitted by Sappi Southern Africa Limited, which reasoned that:
- Globally, the newsprint market has been in prolonged decline, driven primarily by digital migration, which has reduced demand for paper publications. Despite this trend, newsprint remains an important medium in developing countries such as South Africa, where electronic connectivity is not universal.
- With global overcapacity and increasing low-priced imports, Sappi’s Ngodwana Mill (PM2 machine) has faced persistent financial losses. Without the requested tariff intervention, the continued viability of South African newsprint manufacturing is at significant risk.
- Protection against low-priced imported newsprint is critical to maintaining the PM2 machine operations, safeguarding associated employment, and supporting the national economy. The PM2 machine is the only operational newsprint facility in South Africa and the SACU region.
- Therefore, this application seeks to ensure the long-term viability of newsprint manufacturing at the PM2 machine, while allowing the company to expand into alternative packaging products.