Budget 2017 –
Customs
Two things of importance.
Firstly, customs duties
collection was R6.54 billion
below budget. Specific
excise duties were down
by R2.3 billion, while ad
valorem excise duties were
above budget by R109
million, and customs and
excise receipts were up by
R370 million.
Secondly, what you may
well have missed relates
to the “Disclosure of trade
statistics”. “It is proposed
that the current legal
authorisation for the sharing
of trade statistics with
organs of state be reviewed
for its appropriateness and
possibly amended.” This
is quite interesting as the
“sharing of trade statistics
with organs of state” is a
recent introduction.
For a more detailed
account, remember this
week’s Customs Buzz.
WTO’s TFA Ratified
On 22 February a major
milestone for the global
trading system was
reached – without the
participation of South
Africa – when the
first multilateral deal
concluded in the 21-year
history of the WTO
entered into force. It is
most disappointing that
South Africa, which was
an original signatory of
the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
– forerunner of the WTO
– and a founding member
of the WTO did not ratify
the WTO TFA.
Vintage Motor
Vehicle Rebate
Comment on the creation
of a rebate provision for
“Motor cars and other
motor vehicles principally
designed for the transport
of persons (excluding
commercial vehicles or
buses) including station
wagons and racing cars
classifiable under tariff
subheading 87.03, which
were manufactured 40
years prior to the date
of importation or such
motor cars of any age which
are determined to be an
international collector’s
vehicle by the International
Trade Administration
Commission (Itac) and
subject to the issuing of an
Itac import permit (and
subject to import control
conditions) authorising the
importation of the particular
vehicle, under such conditions
as Itac may allow by specific
rebate permit.” Comment is
due by 17 March.
Steering Assemblies
Duty
Comment on the proposed
reduction in the “general”
rate of customs duty on
“rack and pinion steering
assemblies (excluding powerassisted
types and those
of subheading 8708.94.10)
classifiable under tariff
subheading 8708.94.20” from
20% ad valorem to free of
duty is due by 17 March.
Unframed Glass Mirror
Review
Comment on the initiation of
a sunset review of the antidumping
duties on unframed
glass mirrors, of a thickness
of 2mm or more but not
exceeding 6mm, classifiable
under tariff subheading
7009.91, originating in or
imported from Indonesia is
due by 18 March.
Duty Calls Watch
List
Comment on National
Treasury and Sars’ Diesel
Fuel Tax Refund System is
due by 15 May.
Duty Calls
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