DTI speeds up tariff simplification

LEONARD NEILL
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry has committed itself to reducing tariff lines to simplify business.
This is vital if new opportunities are to be created in the export market, dti director general Alistair Ruiters told FTW last week.
“There are distortions that disadvantage companies importing primary products and components which are, in turn, incorporated into manufactured goods for export, he said.
“It’s a process started 10 years ago and is now being speeded up. The negotiation of free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries and communities is playing a major role in this context. It is all about balancing general tariffs and FTA tariffs. Currently an FTA is being negotiated with the US. When this is completed, SA will then have FTAs in place with two of its three biggest trade partners, the EU agreement being the other. Japan, as yet not negotiated, is the third partner.”
Along with these, he says, on-going administration processes, such as guarding against product dumping on the local market, must be supervised.
“SA’s consumers deserve better choices and better prices. A handful of players has dominated certain market segments for far too long. Our plan is to present an opportunity for more competition.”