Caustic Soda Rebate – Comment due On 23 August the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) announced the proposed rebate of the ‘general’ rate of customs duty on sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), in aqueous solution, classifiable in tariff subheading 2815.12, for the manufacture of semichemical fluting paper, classifiable in tariff 4805.11, in such quantities, at such times and under such conditions as Itac may allow by specific permit. Comment is due by 20 September.
Coated Steel Duty Review – Comment due Itac on 23 August announced a review of the ‘general’ rate of customs duty on coated steel, classifiable in tariff subheadings 7210.41, 7210.49, 7212.30, 7210.61, 7210.90, 7225.99, 7210.70 and 7212.40. Comment is due by 20 September.
Frozen Chicken Annual Quota – Comment due On 23 August Itac announced the substitution of Rebate Item 460.03/0207.14.9/01.07 in order to increase the annual quota for bone-in cuts of the species Gallus Domesticus, frozen and imported from or originating in the United States of America, with retrospective effect from 01 April. The reasoning is contained in Itac minute M02/2019 Rebate Item 460.03/0207.14.9/01.07: “Frozen meat of the species Gallus domesticus, cut in pieces with bone in and imported from or originating in the United States of America, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) may allow by specific permit on recommendation of the Director General: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff), provided that (a) With effect from 1 April 2016, permits may be issued by Itac for meat imported in terms of this rebate item; (b) From the date this rebate item comes into operation up to and including 31 March 2016 meat imported in terms of this rebate item shall be on a first-come-first-serve basis; (c) The meat subject to the provisions of this rebate item may not exceed a basic annual quota of 68 590 metric tonnes; (d) The annual quota period is 1 April to 31 March; (e) Prior to 1 April 2016, the quota shall be 16250 metric tonnes; (f) As from 1 April 2017 a growth factor as determined by Daff is applied to the basic quota annually; (g) The meat imported in terms of this rebate item may not be removed outside the Republic for consumption in any of the BLNS countries; (h) The permit is not transferable and may not be used to obtain meat to the benefit of any entity or person not named in the permit issued by Itac; (i) This rebate item shall be suspended if any benefits that South Africa enjoyed under African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) as at 1 November 2015 are suspended, and shall remain suspended for as long as those benefits under Agoa remains suspended; and (j) This rebate item is suspended in terms of paragraph (i) as from the date the Minister of Trade and Industry submits written confirmation to the Minister of Finance that South Africa ‘s benefits under Agoa have been suspended.”
