A weekly summary of the main changes to the South African tariff dispensation and amendments to customs and excise legislation. Compiled by Riaan de Lange of South African Tariff & Trade Solutions. E-mail: riaan@importsolutions.co.za Metal Sector Development Strategy – Comment Due The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has published the Metals Sector Development Strategy for comment, following the approval of its executive board. The strategy document consists of five chapters, dealing with amongst other: Sector Overview, Sector Strategic Plan, and the Sector Implementation Plan. The closing date for comments is 31 August 2006. The dti Export Training Workshop From 24-25 August 2006 the dti will be hosting a two day workshop in KwaZulu Natal that will cover the following topics: • The Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) Scheme; • Export Development and Marketing; • Logistical Issues on Export; • Value Chain; • Freight Forwarding; • Market Segmentation; • Targeting Foreign Markets and Buyers; • Positioning; • Exhibition Training; and • Country Reports. The workshop is open to a single representative from companies that have been exporting for at least two years. No Tariff Amendments – 11 August 2006 Tariff Applications – Response Due The proposed creation of a manufacturing rebate for sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) for the manufacture of soaps and organic surface-active products and preparations in the form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes. The proposed creation of a provision for the rebate of the customs duty on goods of any description for use in the infrastructure known as the Gauteng Rapid Rail Link, at such times and in such quantities as the International Trade and Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) may allow by specific permit. Response due by 15 September 2006. The proposed amendment of, amongst other, the descriptions of tariff subheadings and rebate provisions relating to motor vehicles and heavy vehicles. This relates to motor vehicles for the transport of goods under tariff heading 87.04, with a vehicle mass exceeding 2 000 kg and a G.V.M. exceeding 3 500kg, or with a mass exceeding 1 600kg and a G.V.M. exceeding 3 500kg per chassis fitted with a cab, excluding dumpers designed for off highway use, dumpers with articulated chassis with a G.V.M. exceeding 5 tonnes, shuttle cars and low construction flame-proof vehicles for use in underground mines and off-the-road logging trucks. For chassis fitted with engines of tariff heading 87.06, of a mass exceeding 1 600 kg and a G.V.M. exceeding 3 500kg, excluding those for dumpers designed for off highway use, dumpers with articulated chassis with a G.V.M. exceeding 5 tonnes, shuttle cars and low construction flame-proof vehicles for use in underground mines and off-the-road logging trucks. The application will also affect the amendment of Rebate Item 317.02/00.00/05.00, the amendment of Note 1 to rebate item 317.07, the amendment of the description of rebate item 460.17/87.04/01.04, and the amendment of the description of item 537.00/87.04/01.04. No Trade Remedy Amendments – 11 August 2006 Trade Remedy Applications – Response Due The initiation of an investigation into the alleged dumping of white self-copy paper originating in or exported from the United States of America. Response due by 28 August 2006. The initiation of an interim review of the anti-dumping duties on wire ropes imported from Brindon International Ltd in the United Kingdom (UK). Response due by 11 September 2006.
