Shipping Line Competition Exemption In the Government Gazette of 25 July 2014 the Competition Commission gave notice of an application by the Association of Shipping Lines (ASL) to be exempted from certain provisions of the Competition Act. ASL is a voluntary, multimember association whose members comprise various shipping liner companies. Members of the ASL are engaged in the provision of liner shipping services which involve the transportation of goods on scheduled ships or vessels between ports via established sea routes ie, ocean trade to and from one or more South African ports. The subject of the application is for Suite of Agreements which involves the sale, exchange or pooling of spaces or slots between shipping lines on container ships bound to, around and from southern Africa, or in certain instances, agreements between shipping lines and their customers. Some agreements which form part of the Suite of Agreements constitute what may be referred to as “consortia agreements” in that they make provision for joint services by two or more shipping lines to customers. Other agreements are purely vertical as they do not constitute the provision of joint services to customers. Comment is due by 22 August 2014 Customs and Excise Bills History Following last week’s issue, and requests by readers for clarification, the redrafting of Customs Bills actually commenced in January 2005. Although the Bills have been enacted their introduction is now awaited, and that is generally expected once the Rules to the Acts have been published. The draft rules were recently the subject of comment. Duty Calls’ Watch List Comment on the proposed increase in the “General” rate of customs duty is due by 15 August 2014: On (i) wire of iron or non-alloy steel: plated or coated with zinc; (ii) barbed wire of iron or steel; (iii) other grill, netting and fencing, welded at the intersection; and (iv) other cloth, grill, netting and fencing. On lead-acid, of a kind used for starting piston engines. Customs and Excise Course From 01 to 03 October 2014, Continuing Education at the University of Pretoria is presenting a course on customs and excise taxes which offers an opportunity for individuals with no prior formal education or experience in taxation to acquire a basic knowledge of customs and excise taxes in a South African context. The training will amongst others focus on the principles of customs duty that were the subject of an MPhil (Taxation) thesis - The Core Principles of Customs Duty: A South African Perspective.
