The Trade Deficit Continues to Grow The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has announced the trade statistics for the month of July: (i) imports amounted to R75.6 billion; (ii) exports amounted to R61.3 billion; and (iii) Trade deficit amounted to R14.3 billion. With just over half of the year behind us, the trade deficit is now at R50.67billion or more than R7billion per month. When taking a closer look at July 2008 (i) imports increased by R15.26billion to R75.60billion while exports increased by R1.11billion (1.84%) to R61.27 billion. Anti-dumping Investigation – Comment Due Initiation of a Sunset Review of the anti-dumping duties on colour-coated products originating in or imported from Australia. As a means of clarification “colour coated products” refer to flat rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel of a width of 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plastics (excluding Zincalume not colour coated, but covered with resin) and flat rolled products of iron or nonalloy steel, of a width of less than 600mm, painted varnished or coated with plastics, commonly known as Colourbond XRW (exterior walling and roofing). Comment due by 29 September 2008. Anti-Dumping Duties Expiring During 2009 A notice appeared in the Government Gazette that unless a duly substantiated request was made by or on behalf of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) industry, indicating that the expiry of the antidumping duty would lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury, the following anti-dumping duties would expire during the year 2009. Uncoated woodfree paper imported from or originating in Brazil and Poland; (ii) float glass imported from or originating in the People’s Republic of China (China) and India; and flat glass imported from or originating in the China and India. Sacu manufacturers of these products who wish to submit a request for the anti-dumping duty to be reviewed prior to their expiry, are requested to do so. Tariff Applications – Comment Due The proposed reduction in the rate of customs duty (duty) on containers for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel of a welded construction, indelibly stamped with a water capacity of 1.5 litres or more but not exceeding 150 litres, identifiable for use with liquefied petroleum gas from 15% ad valorem to free of duty. The proposed rebate of the duty on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panels for the manufacture of video monitors incorporating an automatic data processing machine. Comment due by 03 October 2008.
