Duty calls

Tariff Amendments –
12 September 2008
The Southern African
Development Community
(SADC) rates of customs
duty (duty) on abalone
have been reduced from
5,5c/kg to free of duty. The
amendment is imposed
with retrospective effect
from 01 January 2008.
Amendment of the tariff
dispensation in respect of
float glass and surface
ground or polished glass,
in sheets, whether or
not having an absorbent,
reflecting or non-reflecting
layer, but not otherwise
worked, other nonwired
glass.
The amendments include
the insertion, as well as
the substitution of tariff
subheadings.
The rates of duty in
respect of the products are
all 10% ad valorem for the
General or MFN rate of
duty; free for the European
Union (EU); free for the
European Free Trade Area
(EFTA); and free for
the SADC.
Tariff Applications –
Treat with Caution
The following tariff
applications closed for
comment on 12 September
2008. If you import such
products you should
prepare for possible future
amendments to the tariff
dispensation.
The amendment of
the rebate of the duty
on television sets, the
deletion and substitution of
tariff subheadings.
The increase in the
dollar-based reference price
for sugar; and
The temporary rebate of
the full duty and temporary
rebate of the full duty less
20% on canned pineapples
under a permit system.
Trade Remedy Application
- Treat with Caution
If you import the following
products, be advised that
a possible amendment to
the tariff dispensation is a
distinct possibility.
A recommendation
to the Minister of Trade
and Industry is under
consideration to make
imports of L-Lysine HCI,
commonly known as
lysine powder and feed
supplements by mass 40%
or more lysine, whether
or not containing added
antibiotics or added
melengestrol acetate,
commonly known as
L-Lysine sulphate and
its by-products from
fermentation, or Biolys
or Protein Lysine from
Indonesia subject to
a safeguard duty.
Clothing & Textile
Request for Proposal
A request for Proposal (RFP)
for the “Assessment of the
Effectiveness of Clothing
and Textile Import Quotas
from the People’s Republic
of China”, has been issued.
The purpose of the
proposed study is to
determine the effectiveness
or otherwise of the import
quotas imposed on textile
and clothing products
originating in the People’s
Republic of China, and
to propose appropriate
recommendations.
The import quotas
were imposed on
01 January 2007 and are
due to be terminated on
31 December 2008.