Trade Trend Insight – August 2008 On 30 September 2008 the South African Revenue Service (Sars) released the monthly South African trade statistics for August 2008. Other than merely accessing the general information that was contained in the press release, you can now access an interpreted analysis of the monthly trade statistics on the internet, on the same day. Best of all you can do so free of charge. Global Insight Southern Africa, in association with Tariff & Trade Intelligence CC, have developed TRADE TREND INSIGHT, a table that provides you with an analysis of the trade statistics to enable you to account for the trends. You can access this table by visiting http://www. tradeinsight.co.za/TTI.php and then selecting the icon at the top right-hand corner to download a copy. In summary the cumulative trade deficit for (i) January 2008 to August 2008 was R54.4 billion; (ii) January 2007 to August 2007 was R50.8 billion; and (iii) January 2006 to August 2006 was R41.6 billion. FINAL OPPORTUNITY - Trade Agreement with India The South African Government recently published a notice in respect of “Trade negotiations with India: product lines of interest to exporters to India”. The notice announced that the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and India had begun a process of trade negotiations intended to lead to the creation of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The notice points out that a consultative process is under way to compile a list of products of export interest. The products in question are agricultural and agroprocessed products; chemicals; metals, metal products, machinery and engineering; textiles and clothing; leather and footwear; automotives; and other products not mentioned elsewhere Comment is due by 10 October 2008. Tariff Applications – Comment Due The proposed review of the tariff dispensation on products used for the manufacture of clothing. The review is in respect of hydrogen chloride, sodium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution, and hydrogen peroxide, not solidified with urea, for use in the manufacture of textiles. It is also in respect of azo pigments, pigments and preparations based on titanium dioxide, and pigments and preparations based on chrome oxide, for use in the dyeing and printing of textiles. The review relates to transfers vitrifiable, transfers not vitrifiable, and thermal transfer ribbon, for use in the printing of textiles. It also relates to staple fibres of polyesters, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning at such times, in such quantities and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa may allow by specific permit, for use in the manufacture of non-woven fabrics. The reduction in the rate of customs duty on artificial filament yarn, metalised yarn, gauze, metalised fabric, and lace. Comment is due by 17 October 2008.
