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 Consultations on WTO Non-Agricultural Market Access Negotiations. The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has announced that South Africa will continue domestic consultations to prepare for the resumption of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations. In line with the mandate for Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) negotiations as contained in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, South Africa is continuing its consultative process to prepare and finalise its NAMA negotiating positions. This process is under way within the National Economic Development and Labour Council and with South Africa’s Southern African Customs Union (SACU) partners. The Government has extended an invitation to business and labour to participate in consultations by making representation to the South African Trade Negotiating Team. The invitation is in respect of tariff chapters 43, 45, 46, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 90, 94, 95 and 96. The consultations will take place at the National Economic Development and Labour Council offices in Johannesburg on October 19 or 20. Consultations are scheduled for certain times depending on the HS Tariff Chapter. Adjustment in the Rate of Customs Duty . The dti has proposed an adjustment to certain tariff subheadings from their present applied rate of customs duty (duty) to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) bound rate of duty. Essentially the bound rates of duty are the highest rates of duty that South Africa and SACU can impose on imported products. According to the applicant, the dti, in terms of South Africa’s and SACU’s WTO obligations – and in view of the preparatory work for South Africa’s engagement in NAMA negotiations – it is imperative that South Africa complies with the provisions of our multilateral trade agreements. Response due 10 November 2006. No Tariff Amendments – 06 October 2006 Tariff Amendments – 03 October 2006. The general rate of duty on feed supplements, containing by mass 40 per cent or more lysine, whether or not containing added antibiotics or added melengestrol acetate, has been reduced from 2% ad valorem to free. The general rate of duty on lysine and its esters; salts thereof, has been reduced from 2% ad valorem to free. No Trade Remedy Amendments – 06 October 2006 Trade Remedy Amendments – 03 October 2006 Anti-dumping duties have been imposed on float glass and surface ground or polished glass in sheets, imported from or originating in Indonesia. Trade Remedy Applications – No Response Due No Rule Amendments – 06 October 2006
