On 20 May the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) called for comment on the proposed creation of a Rebate Item for the importation of stranded wire, ropes and cables, on which comment is due by 20 June 2022.
The proposed Rebate Item for tariff subheading 7312.10.40, reads: “Other ropes and cables, of wire which is plaited, coated or clad with zinc, classifiable in tariff subheading 7312.10.40, for the manufacture of conveyor belts and belting classifiable in tariff subheading 4010.1, provided the goods are not available in the SACU region”.
The application was lodged by Dunlop Belting Products (Pty) Ltd who reasoned that:
- There is currently no Southern African Customs Union (SACU) manufacturer of steel cord of a kind used to manufacture conveyor belting in the SACU region as all the previous manufacturers of this product in the region have closed down;
- The existing customs duty thus serves no purpose other than adding an unnecessary cost burden to the importers of steel cord; and
- Should the application be approved, the duty relief will assist the applicant in its growth plans, preserve existing jobs and enable the creation of additional jobs.