Bangladesh Kyoto Convention The World Customs Organisation (WCO) Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya, on 28 September announced that Bangladesh had become the 83rd contracting party to the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention, which entered into force on 03 February 2006. The Convention is regarded as a blueprint for effective and modern Customs procedures. Some of the Convention’s key elements include the application of simplified Customs procedures in a predictable and transparent environment, the maximum use of information technology, the utilisation of risk management, a strong partnership with the trade and other stakeholders, and a readily accessible system of appeals. Worn Clothing Rebate Item In a Government Gazette dated 24 August 2012 the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) published the “Guidelines Regarding Applications for Permits in terms of the Provision of Rebate Item 311.18/63.09/01.04 of Schedule No.3 to the Customs and Excise Act”, for comment due on 05 October 2012. The Guidelines relate to permits for the rebate of the full rate of customs duty on worn clothing and other worn articles of textile material used for the manufacturing of wiping rags and cleaning cloths. The Guidelines consist of the following parts: (1) Application; (2) Conditions of Permits; (2.1.1) Production Capacity; (2.1.2) Movement of Clothing and Other Textile Material; (2.1.3) Goods Suitable for the Manufacture of Wiping Rags and Cleaning Cloths; (2.1.4) Location and Requirements of Rebate Store; (2.1.5) Notification Requirement; (2.1.6) Documentation Requirement; (2.1.7) Requirements in respect of Goods not Suitable for the Manufacture of Wiping Rags and Cleaning Cloths; (2.1.8) Inspections by the Inspectorate: Import and Export Control of the International Trade Administration Commission; (2.1.9) The Use of Other Rebate Provisions; and (3) Non-Compliance with the Conditions of Permits. Worn clothing and other worn articles of textile materials are subject to Import Control conditions, and an import permit will only be issued in instances where a rebate permit has already been obtained. The Inspectorate of the Directorate Import and Export Control must be notified in writing by the permit holder at least 10 working days in advance of the date of arrival of consignments of imported worn clothing and other imported worn articles of textile materials at its premises. According to “The Use of Other Rebate Provisions” (2.1.9) registered users of the rebate provision for the manufacture of wiping rags and cleaning cloths may not apply to register and import under the rebate provision for used overcoats. Duty Call’s Watch List Comments are due by 02 November 2012 in respect of the increase in the domestic dollar-based reference price for wheat, classifiable under tariff heading 1001.9, from US$215/ ton to US$326/ton through an adjustment in the variable tariff formula for wheat by the inclusion of a self sufficiency factor of 1.158. Comments are due by 29 October 2012 in respect of the initiation of the sunset review of the anti-dumping duties on plates and sheets, film, foil and strip of polymers of vinyl chloride, classifiable under tariff subheading 3920.49, originating in or imported from the People’s Republic of China and Chinese Taipei. Comments are due by 15 October 2012 in respect of the draft amendments for the General System of Preferences for the European Union and Norway.
