EFTA Implementation Date The South African Revenue Service (Sars) will implement the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) retrospectively from 01 May 2008. WTO Arbitrator Issues Report on Dispute On 05 May 2 008 the World Trade Organisation (WTO) issued a report by one of its Arbitrators, David Unterhalter – who is coincidentally a South African – regarding the “reasonable period of time” to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body in the case “Japan — Countervailing Duties on Dynamic Random Access Memories from Korea”. Tariff Applications – Comment Due This tariff application replaces the application that was published in the Government Gazette of 28 March 2 008, on which comment was due by this afternoon. Amendment of the description of the Rebate Item relating to “worn clothing and other worn articles of textile material (excluding those containing cotton) at such times as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, for the recovery of fibres”; and “worn clothing and other worn articles of textile material containing 35% or more by mass of cotton fibres, (brassieres, girdles, corsets, braces, suspenders, garters, jackets, blazers, jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, overcoats, carcoats, raincoats, anoraks, skijackets, duffle-coats, mantles, parkas, swimwear, and similar clothing articles) in such quantities and subject to the conditions the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit for the manufacture of wiping rags and cleaning cloths”. Comments due by 2 0 June 2 008. Imposition of Anti- Dumping Duties The imposition of anti-dumping duties on non-articulated welded link chain, the links of which are manufactured from round section iron or steel wire, bars or rods of a diameter of 4 mm or more but not exceeding 10 mm, imported from the Rudong Chain Works in the People’s Republic of China (China). The rate of anti-dumping is 2.4% .This excludes those products imported from Rudong Chain Works in China and Sichuan Longchan Hongfa Chain Produce Co. Ltd in China. The rate of antidumping is 52.9%. Rule Amendments – 09 May 2008 The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has published amendments to the Customs and Excise Rules in respect of the deletion, insertion and substitution of rules, regulations and forms relating to the excise accounts of: Wine and other fermented beverages; Malt beer; Tobacco products; and Spirits products. Note: This is a non comprehensive statement of the law. No liability can be accepted for errors and omissions.
