DUTY CALLS

Increase in Rate of
Duty
The International Trade
Administration Commission
of South Africa (Itac) on 20
June 2014 invited written
comment on the proposed
increase in the “General” rate
of customs duty on helical
springs classifiable under
tariff subheading 7320.20
from 5% ad valorem to
30% ad valorem, by way of
creating an additional 8-digit
tariff subheading for: “Helical
springs with a wire diameter
of more than 1.32mm but not
exceeding 2.43mm”.
Comment is due by 18 July
2014.
Dumping Lapse
On 20 July 2014 Itac notified
all interested parties that
unless a duly substantiated
request is made by or on
behalf of the Southern
African Customs Union
(Sacu) industry indicating
that the expiry of the antidumping
duty would be
likely to lead to continuation
or recurrence of dumping
and injury, the following
anti-dumping duties will
expire during 2015: (i) garlic
imported from the People’s
Republic of China (China)
[25 March 2015]; (ii) float
and flat glass imported from
China [25 March 2015];
(iii) polyester staple fibre
imported from China [27
March 2015]; and (iv) float
and flat glass from India [25
March 2015].
Sacu manufacturers of
the products who wish to
comment need to do so not
later than 28 July 2014.
Dumping Amendment
The South African Revenue
Service (Sars) on 20 June
2014 announced the technical
correction to the structure
of Schedule No 2 Part 1 to
the Customs and Excise
Act – dumping – to ensure
alignment with industries in
accordance with the Sections
of the Harmonised System
of Tariff Classification. The
header vegetable products
under item 205.00, corrected
to 202.00. The correction
is effective from 19 June
2014. Another result of the
amendment is that the check
digits (CD) have changed.
APDP Regulations
On 20 June 2014 the
Minister of Economic
Development, through a
Government Gazette notice,
announced the amendment
of Section 8 of the
Automotive Production and
Development Programme
(APDP) Regulations through
the addition of Section 8.2
and Section 18.
Regulation 8: 8.
Who may apply for a
Production Rebate Credit
Certificate (PRCC): 8.1
Final manufacturers based
in South Africa who are
registered with Sars as
taxpayers may apply for a
PRCC. 8.2 Motor vehicle
manufacturers registered
in terms of Section 18.1.
Regulation 18: 18. Entities
qualifying for Company
Specific Percentage
(CSP). 18.1 Motor vehicle
manufacturers with a plant
capacity of 50 000 units
per annum may submit
applications to Itac for
registration as a specified
motor vehicle manufacturer,
unless otherwise
determined by the Minister.
Draft Rules – Customs
Control Act
Sars on 17 June 2014
published draft Customs
Control Rules for Chapters
1 and 3 to 10 of the
proposed Customs Control
Act (currently Customs
Control Bill B45B of
2013). Comments must be
submitted by no later than
29 July 2014.
LPG Market Inquiry
The Competition
Commission, through a
Government Gazette notice
on 20 June 2014, announced
its market inquiry into the
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG) sector.