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 Tariff & Trade Intelligence. E.mail: riaan@tariffandtrade.co.za SMEDP Replacement Delayed until July 2008 On 2 8 May 2 008 the Minister of Trade and Industry informed Parliament that the much anticipated successor to the Small & Medium Enterprise Development Programme (SMEDP), named the Enterprise Investment Programme (EIP), would now only be unveiled in July. This follows a statement on 08 May 2 008 by the Minister of Public Enterprises, Alec Erwin, that the EIP would be launched in May. Latest Developments on the NIPF During August 2007 the department of trade and industry (dti) announced the long awaited national industrial policy framework (NIPF). On 2 7 May 2 008, the dti announced that during early 2 009 it intended to change the current NIPF programme from an initial one-year set of interventions to a three year rolling action plan that would be revised on an annual basis. The importance of the NIPF from a customs, excise and international trade perspective, is that it defines the four lead sectors to be (i) capital/ transport equipment and metals; (ii) Automotives and components; (iii) Chemicals, plastic fabrication, pharmaceuticals; and (iv) Forestry, pulp, paper, furniture. Investment Recruitment Mission to Brazil The Department of Trade and Industry is in the process of organising an investment recruitment mission to Brazil from 2 3 to 27 June 2 008. The key sectors that the mission intends to target,are (i) Alternative energy; (ii) Transport; and (iii) Mining equipment manufacturers, including coal mining houses which have mining rights or existing mining operations that require capital injection to increase capacity. Trade Policy Review of China Concluded The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has published its Trade Policy Review of China. According to the report the structural reforms in China, including trade liberalisation, have resulted in annual real GDP growth rates in excess of 10% over the past four years, rising per-capita income and poverty reduction. During this time China has become the world’s third largest trader. 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. The amendment of the description relating to the Rebate Item relating to worn clothing and other worn articles of textile material at such times as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit, for the recovery of fibres, or for the manufacture of wiping rags and cleaning cloths. Comments due by 20 June 2008.
