DUTY CALLS is your weekly look at changes in the South African tariff dispensation. No liability is accepted for errors or omissions. A Amendments to the Customs and Excise Act - 15 June 2001 (General) The rates of duty on natural or cultured pearls, whether or not worked or graded but not strung, mounted or set, classifiable under tariff subheadings 7101.10; 7101.21; 7101.22 are equalised at free. The 'General' and 'European Union' rates of duty in respect of tariff subheading 7202.99.30 are respectively reduced from 7% to 5% and free with retrospective effect to 1 January 2000. This is as a result of a transposition error which occurred with the publication of the new Part 1 of Schedule No.1 to the Customs and Excise Act, 1964. (Note that the rate of duty on 'Southern African Development Community' is free.) Amendments to the Customs and Excise Act - 15 June 2001 (Withdrawal of rebate provisions) Provisions are withdrawn for rebate of the duty on: * Organic chemical compounds, or use as additives in the manufacture of mineral oils - rebate item 305.02/29.00/01.02 * Emulsifying compounds, for the manufacture of bituminous emulsions - rebate item 305.02/34.02/01.00 * Propyl alcohols, for the manufacture of xanthates - rebate item 306.01/29.05/04.00 * Lanolin, for the manufacture of surgical dressings, medicated plasters and surgical sutures - rebate item 306.02/15.05/01.00 * Non-wovens, impregnated or coated, for the manufacture of bandages, surgical dressings, medicated plasters and surgical sutures - rebate item 306.02/56.03/01.00 * Chlorinated paraffin wax - rebate item 306.04/34.04/01.00 * High boiling point tar acid - rebate item 306.09/27.07/01.00 * Iodine - rebate item 306.09/28.01/01.00 * Certain organic compounds and monocarboxylic acids (excluding formic acid) and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides and peracids, and their halogenated sulphonated, nitrosated derivatives, for use as active ingredients in the manufacture of pesticides - rebates items 306.09/29.05/01.00 and 306.09/29.15/01.00 * Glycols and other organic chemicals (excluding calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, cadium stearate, aluminium stearate and barium stearate), for the manufacture of brake fluids - rebate item 306.10/29.00/01.00 * Coconut diethanolamide, sodium lauryl ether sulphate and triethanolamine lauryl sulphate, for the manufacture of fire-extinguishing foam - rebate item 306.10/34.02/01.00 * Cashew nutshell liquids - rebate item 307.01/13.02/01.00 Provisions for a rebate of the duty for the manufacture of internal combustion piston engines and parts thereof, are withdrawn on: * Plates, sheets, strip and profile shapes, of vulcanised rubber (excluding hard rubber) - rebate item 316.13/40.08/01.00 * Tubes and pipes, having internal and external circular cross-sections, the external diameter of which 406.4mm, of iron or steel - rebate item 316.13/73.05/01.00 * Electrical capacitors, fixed or adjustable - rebate item 316.13/85.32/01.00 Amendments to the Customs and Excise Act - 15 June 2001 (Anti-dumping duties imposed) Anti-dumping duties are imposed, with retrospective effect to 15 December 2000, on polyvinyl chloride, not mixed with any other substances, in the form of suspensions, imported from or originating in the Republic of Korea, Thailand and India. (Items 207.01/3904.10/05.06, 207.01/3904.10/06.06, 207.01/3904.10/07.06). Countervailing duty is imposed, with retrospective effect to 15 December 2000, on polyvinyl chloride, not mixed with any other substances, in the form of suspensions, imported or originating in India. (Item 237.01/3904.10/01.06). Tariff application - 8 June 2001 The proposed increase in the customs duty on roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken, classifiable under tariff heading 12.02, from free of duty to 10 per cent ad valorem. Response due by 20 July 2001. Tariff applications - Still time to comment The removal of certain tariff subheadings with regards to pre-vulcanised latex; the removal of a number of rebate provisions in respect of electrical generators, insulated electric wire, electric insulating products, transistors and electric integrated circuits; and the reduction of the duty on cylinder liners and sleeves suitable for use solely or principally with spark ignition internal combustion piston engines from 20 per cent ad valorem to free of duty. Response due by 29 June 2001. Anti-dumping application - Still time to comment A notice appeared in respect of a final determination of the investigation into the alleged dumping of aluminium conductor steel reinforced (ASCR) originating in or imported from India and Bahrain and/or the alleged subsidised export of ASCR originating in or imported from India. Readers interested in responding to this application should do so by no later than 25 June 2001.
