DUTY CALLS is your weekly look at changes in the South African tariff dispensation and amendments to Customs and Excise legislation. This column aims to provide the reader with a summary of the main changes and is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of the law. No liability is accepted for errors or omissions. No Rule amendments - 29 August Tariff amendments - 29 August The general, European Union (EU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) rates of customs duty (duty) on folding knives incorporating five or more auxiliary tools, classifiable under tariff subheading 8211.93.25, have been reduced from 20% ad valorem and 13% ad valorem respectively to free of duty. The general, EU and SADC rates of duty on certain folding knives with one or more blades with a cutting edge of 25mm or more but not exceeding 100mm, not plated with precious metal, classifiable under tariff subheading 8211.93.30, are restored to 20% ad valorem and 13% ad valorem respectively. The amendment of rebate item 315.08/82.03/01.04 the rebate of the full duty on drop forged steel blanks, for the manufacture of files, rasps, pliers [excluding water pump pliers, gas pliers and slip joint pipe-grip pliers (including bent-nose type), adjustable self-locking pliers and grips], pincers (excluding carpenters’ pincers), tweezers, metal cutting shears, pipe-cutters, bolt croppers, perforating punches and similar hand tools. Tariff applications - no response due Anti-dumping notices - 22 August The anti-dumping duty on cotton underwear, imported from or originating in the People’s Republic of China is withdrawn. Provisional anti-dumping duties are imposed on boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles of plaster or of compositions based on plaster, not ornamented, faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard only, imported from or originating in Thailand. Anti-dumping investigations - no response due
