DUTY CALLS

Soya beans TRQ
On 1 September the South
African Revenue Service
(Sars) announced the
retrospective amendment,
with effect from 1 April 2016,
of General Note M of Schedule
1 Part 1 of the 1964 Act,
“Duties on goods to which the
Preferential Trade Agreement
between the Common Market
of the South (Mercosur) and
the South African Customs
Union (Sacu)” changing
the tariff-rate quota (TRQ)
allocation for soya beans of the
Preferential Trade Agreement
(PTA) between Mercosur and
Sacu.
Wire netting tariff
Sars on 01 September
announced an increase in the
‘general’ rate of customs duty
on gabions of wire netting to
30% ad valorem.
Steering assemblies
tariff
On 01 September Sars
announced a reduction in the
‘general’ rate of customs duty
on rack and pinion steering
assemblies from 20% ad
valorem to free of customs
duty.
Iron or steel product
tariff
Sars on 01 September
announced an increase in
the ‘general’ rate of customs
duty on iron or steel wire,
bars or rods to 15% ad
valorem.
Furniture rebate
items
On 1 September Sars
announced the insertion
of rebate items for goods
used in the manufacture of
furniture.
Stainless Steel
Fasteners Rebate –
Comment due
The International Trade
Administration Commission
of South Africa (Itac) has
announced the proposed
creation of a rebate item
for stainless steel fasteners,
which reads “Screws, bolts,
coach screws, screw hooks,
rivets, cotters, cotterpins,
washers (including
spring washers) and similar
articles, of stainless steel,
classifiable in tariff heading
73.18, in such quantities,
at such times and subject
to such conditions
as the International
Trade Administration
Commission may allow by
specific permit, provided
the Commission is
satisfied that the subject
goods are not available in
the Sacu region”.
The application was
lodged by Fastenright (Pty)
Ltd who reasoned that there
were no local manufacturers
of stainless steel fasteners in
the Sacu.
Specified Motor
Vehicle Amendment
The Economic Development
Minister has announced
the substitution of the
specified motor vehicles
definition of Part A to the
Automotive Production and
Development Programme
(APDP) regulations for
the following: (i) road
tractors or semi-trailers
of subheading 8701.20 of
vehicles exceeding 1 600
kg; (ii) motor vehicles for
the transport of ten or
more persons, including the
driver, of heading 87.02, of
a vehicle mass not exceeding
2 000 kg (excluding those
of subheading 8702.10.10);
(iii) motor cars (including
station wagons) of heading
8703; (iv) motor vehicles for
the transport of goods of
heading 87.04 of a vehicle
mass not exceeding
2 000 kg or a GVM not
exceeding 3 500 kg or of a
mass not exceeding 1 600 kg
or of a GVM not exceeding
3 500 kg per chassis fitted
with a cab (excluding shuffle
cars and low construction
flame-proof vehicles for use
in underground mines and
off-the-road logging trucks);
and (v) chassis fitted with
engines of heading 87.06,
of a mass not exceeding
1 600 kg or of a GVM
not exceeding 3 500 kg
(excluding those for shuttle
cars and low construction
flame-proof vehicles, for use
in underground mines and
off-the-road-logging trucks).