DUTY CALLS

Sugar duty reduction
On 27 June 2014 the South
African Revenue Service
(Sars) announced a reduction
in the rates of customs duty
on sugar in Schedule No 1
Part 1 to the Customs and
Excise Act (Act), classifiable
under tariff subheadings
1701.12, 1701.13, 1701.14,
1701.91 and 1701.99, from
132c/kg to 92.6c/kg.
Liquor tariff
amendment –
comment due
Sars on 20 June 2014
published for comment
by 11 July 2014 four draft
tariff amendment notices
proposing changes to
Schedule No 6 to the Act,
namely: (i) insertion of Note
4 in Part 1B as a condition
that manufacturers will
have to register with Sars in
terms of Rebate Item 619.07;
(ii) insertion of Rebate Item
619.07/104.10.20/01.01
in Part 1B to provide for a
rebate of the excise duty on
beer made from malt to be
used in the manufacture of
non-alcoholic beverages; (iii)
insertion of Rebate Items
in Part 1C to provide for a
rebate of the excise duty on
other fermented beverages
(OFBs) to be used in the
manufacture of non-alcoholic
beverages; and (iv) insertion
of new Rebate Items in Part
1D to provide for a rebate of
excise duty on spirits to be
used in the manufacture of
other mixtures of fermented
fruit beverages or mead
beverages and non-alcoholic
beverages, fortified (excluding
wine), and the substitution
of Rebate Item 621.11 in Part
1D to include other mixtures
of fermented fruit beverages,
mead beverages and nonalcoholic
beverages.
Wheelbarrow
Anti-dumping
Investigation
On 20 July 2014 Itac
announced the initiation
of an investigation into
the alleged dumping of
wheelbarrows, classifiable
under tariff subheading
8716.80.10, originating in or
imported from the People’s
Republic of China.
The application was lodged
by Lasher Tools.
Feed products export
control
The Executive Officer:
Agricultural Product
Standards of the Department
of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries (Daff) on 27 June
announced his intention
to request the Minister of
Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries to amend the
regulations regarding control
of the export of feed products.
Comment is due by 31 July
2014.
Fresh vegetables
export control
On 27 June 2014 the
Executive Officer:
Agricultural Product
Standards of the Daff
announced his intention
to request the Minister
of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries to amend
the regulations regarding
control of the export of
fresh vegetables. Comment
is due by 31 July 2014.
Yemen a WTO member
On 26 June 2014, Yemen
became the 160th World
Trade Organisation (WTO)
member, closing a 13-year
long chapter of negotiating its
accession terms with WTO
member countries.
Duty Calls’ Watch List
Comment on the continuation
of the anti-dumping duties
on (i) garlic imported from
China; (ii) float and flat
glass imported from China;
(iii) polyester staple fibre
imported from China; and
(iv) float and flat glass from
India is due by 28 July 2014.
Comment on the proposed
increase in the “General” rate
of customs duty on helical
springs is due by 18 July 2014.