DUTY CALLS

Don’t expect
Notification
In recent weeks the status of
two trade remedy measures
changed, yet no Government
Gazette notices or any official
notifications were issued. If
you have missed this, what
else are you missing?
No more
Countervailing
Measures
On 12 February 2014 the
countervailing measures,
also known as anti-subsidy
measures, on stranded wire
of iron or steel, classifiable
under tariff subheading
7312.10.20, and ropes
and cables of iron or steel,
classifiable under tariff
subheadings 7312.10.25,
7312.10.40 and 7312.10.90,
imported from or originating
in India expired. The rates
of countervailing duties
were 2.87% (7312.10.20)
and 2.76%. The expiry is
attributable to the fact that
the International Trade
Administration Commission
of South Africa (Itac) did
not initiate a Sunset Review
investigation before the date,
which it had to do.
Only Anti-dumping
Measures Remain
Due to the expiry of the
countervailing measures and
the lapsing of the provisional
safeguard measure on frozen
potato chips at midnight on
20 January 2014, only antidumping
measures remain.
Duty Calls’ Watch List
Comment on the Sunset
Review of the anti-dumping
duties on wire ropes and
cables originating in or
imported from the United
Kingdom and Germany and
on stranded wire originating
in or imported from the
People’s Republic of China is
due by 10 March 2014 (with
extension to 24 March 2014).
The anti-dumping
measures on gypsum plaster
board originating in or
imported from Indonesia and
Thailand are set to expire
on 14 March 2014, unless a
Sunset Review investigation
is initiated.
Comments in terms of the
Merchandise Marks Act on
European Union graphical
indications (GI) are due by 06
March 2014
Energon
It is said that energy is
paramount in transforming
any economy. We all know
the energy constraints of
our economy. In the movie
Transformers, its energy
is called Energon which is
derived from many forms,
including ore, crystal, gas,
and raw energy in a liquid
state.
Due to the interest of
readers, South Africa’s
monthly energy needs –
electricity, crude oil and
coal – will be considered
from an import and export
perspective.
In November 2013 South
Africa exported R241m
of electricity (R226m to
Mozambique) and imported
R163m (from Mozambique),
it imported R10.49bn of
crude oil (R2.37bn from
Mozambique), and it exported
R4.49bn of coal. Crude oil
imports from Mozambique?
Cover your A.R.S.E.
Not a week goes by without
an email from someone
expressing an interest
in pursuing a future in
customs and excise. The
accompanying question,
what must I do to ensure
that I steer clear of trouble?
When entering an unknown
legislative and administrative
environment I am reminded
of the wise words – cover
your arse. According to
Wikipedia, “to cover your
arse” describes professional
and organisational practices
that serve to protect you from
legal and administrative
penalties, criticism or other
punitive measures.
In customs and excise
the cover is the Act, Rules,
Schedules, and Electronic
Notifications. Keep it covered.