DUTY CALLS

Taps and Mixers Tariff
On 26 October the
International Trade
Administration Commission of
South Africa (Itac) announced
an application for the proposed
increase in the “General” rate
of customs duty on taps and
mixers, classifiable under tariff
subheading 8481.80.79, from
15% ad valorem to 20% ad
valorem.
The application was lodged
by Cobra Watertech (Pty) Ltd.
Comment is due by 23
November 2012.
Polyether Polyols Tariff
On 26 October Itac announced
an application for the proposed
reduction in the “General” rate
of customs duty on polyether
polyols, classifiable under tariff
subheading 3907.20.15, from
10% ad valorem to free of
customs duty.
The application was
lodged by Atlas Consolidated
industries (Pty) Ltd, trading
as Industrial Urethanes, who
reasoned that the product
was not manufactured in the
Southern African Customs
Union (SACU).
Comment is due by
23 November 2012.
Garden Implements
Remedy
On 26 October 2012 Itac
announced the initiation of
a sunset review of the antidumping
duties on garden
picks and spades, shovels,
rakes and forks originating in
or imported from the People’s
Republic of China. The tariff
subheadings in question
are 8201.10.10, 8201.90.20,
8201.30.03, and 8201.30.90.
The sunset review was
launched prior to the expiry
of the anti-dumping duties,
which were set to expire on 01
November 2012.
The application was lodged
by Ussher Inventions (Pty)
Ltd trading as Lasher Tools,
in response to a sunset review
application questionnaire.
The investigation period
for dumping is from 01 July
2011 to 30 June 2012 and the
injury investigation involves
evaluation of data for the
period 01 July 2008 to 30
June 2011 and 2012 budgeted
figures. The Commission will
also consider an estimate of
what the situation will be if the
anti-dumping duties expire.
Comment is due by 03
December 2012.
Unregistered Importers
and Exporters
A letter dated 24 October 2012
from Sars reads:
Previous correspondence
dated 19 October 2012 is
hereby withdrawn and replaced
with this letter.
The 70707070 provision is
currently not permissible for
Customs clearance purposes at
any land port of entry.
In order to improve supply
chain security Sars requires
traders who make use of the
70707070 code in either the
importer or the exporter field
to provide either a South
African identity number or
tax reference number on the
declaration in the unregistered
trader field. The provisions
of Rule 59A.03(1)(iv),
concerning the limitations in
Customs value and number of
transactions allowed per year,
remain in force.
In the case of traders not
resident in South Africa or
who do not have business
premises in South Africa, this
provision is also not applicable.
Such traders are required to
register or license as foreign
principals (importers, exporters
or removers of goods in bond
as the case may be) in order to
continue transacting.
Alternatively a clearing
agent may also act on their
behalf, assuming full liability
for the transaction. In such
cases the agent must be
registered as an importer
or exporter and the agent’s
Customs client number must
appear in the importer or
exporter field of the Customs
declaration, as the case may be.
The clearing agent acting on
behalf of the foreign remover
does not need to be licensed as
a remover.
As from 03 November 2012,
Sars will reject clearances at all
offices of clearance and ports
of entry and exit which do not
comply with the requirements
stated above.