The Doha Discussions on Customs A study that may be of interest to most of our readers titled ‘A Preliminary Study on the Impacts of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Agenda (DDA) Negotiations on Customs’, has just been published. From a policy point of view the study identified, amongst other things, that the ongoing negotiations and the potential conclusion of the DDA demand a more active engagement and involvement from Customs administrations in the WTO negotiation process both nationally and in Geneva. According to the study, the role of Customs is to control the movement of goods and thus to secure the state’s interests and in addition safeguard revenue collection. Furthermore, Customs also ensures compliance with government policies and laws applicable to the cross-border movement of goods, combats smuggling, and secures borders, while ensuring at the same time facilitation of fair trade. Although the study expects much of this role to remain the same, it also foresees that the responsibilities in relation to the international movement of goods have broadened, and will continue to broaden, from the traditional role of merely collecting duties and taxes on international trade transactions in support of the fiscal (revenue collection), to include executing controls and other activities that serve a wider set of government objectives. No Tariff Amendments – 17 July 2009 Tariff Amendments – Clothing – 10 July 2009 A notice appeared in the Government Gazette in respect of the reduction of the rates of customs duty on certain products used for the manufacture of clothing articles to free of duty. In addition, the notice also announced the creation of a number of rebate provisions (manufacturing rebates) in respect of certain products used for the manufacture of textiles and for use in the dyeing and printing of textiles. Readers of this column would no doubt have noticed that in recent weeks there have been numerous amendments to the tariff dispensation in respect of clothing and textile products. If you or any of your clients are involved in clothing and textile products you should also take note of the clothing tariff application that closes on 24 July 2009. No Tariff Applications – 17 July 2009 No Trade Remedy Applications – 17 July 2009 Trade Remedy Applications – Comment Due Readers who have missed our more recent columns should be cognisant of the fact that comment is due in respect of a number of anti-dumping duties that are due to lapse, as well as an investigation into detonating fuses and delay detonators. No Trade Remedy Amendments – 17 July 2009 Trade Remedy Amendment – 15 July 2009 The anti-dumping duties on tubes and pipes, welded, of circular cross section of stainless steel originating in or imported from Malaysia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) were withdrawn with effect from 15 July 2009.
