Clear Float Glass Dumping DutiesOn 07 February the South African Revenue Service (Sars) announced the insertion of items 213.03/7005.29.23/04.08, 213.03/7005.29.23/05.08, 213.03/7005.29.23/06.08, 213.03/7005.29.25/03.08, 213.03/7005.29.25/04.08, 213.03/7005.29.25/05.08, 213.03/7005.29.35/04.08, 213.03/7005.29.35/05.08, and 213.03/7005.29.35/06.08 to introduce anti-dumping duties on clear f loat glass, classifiable in tariff subheading 7005.29, originating in or imported from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The reasoning is contained in the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) Report No 615.Sacu Members Plan for HS 2022The World Customs Organization (WCO) on 06 February announced that following the acceptance of the Harmonized System (HS) 2022, representatives of the secretariat of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and member Customs administrations had held a consultation to take stock of the implementation process of the HS amendments in the Sacu Common External Tariff (CET) and set the basis for a timely and coordinated migration to the 2022 version. The consultation took place from 27 to 30 January in Cape Town, with the support of the European Union (EU)-WCO Programme for HS in Africa, funded by the EU.Tariff experts from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa gathered together with representatives of the Sacu and the WCO to review the arrangements to be put in place with a view to ensuring a smooth and timely migration of the CET of the Union to the new version of the HS. Special emphasis was placed on bringing on board all relevant stakeholders along the upcoming migration process, thereby rendering it more inclusive.The consultation provided an opportunity to discuss other issues and standards related to the HS establishment of a well-functioning system of advance rulings and alignment of the tariff classification work at national level on the international standards and best practices. The consultation was the first in a series of activities that the Sacu region will be organising in cooperation with the WCO within the framework of the EU-WCO Programme for HS in Africa, to further regional integration and to harmonise national models of implementation of HS amendments.WTO Mourns the Passing of its 3rd DGMike Moore, the third director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), died on 02 February at his home in Auckland, New ZealandMoore was the only WTO DG to have served as head of his country’s government. He was DG during one of the WTO’s most historic and tumultuous periods. His tenure (1999 to 2002) coincided with three particularly noteworthy events for the WTO: the 1999 Seattle Ministerial Conference, the accession of China to the WTO, and the launch of the Doha Development Agenda, both of which occurred in 2001.Duty Calls’ WatchlistComment on:The draft diesel refund scheme rule amendments due by 16 March.The proposed rebate item for titanium dioxide used in the manufacture of paints, varnishes, and prepared driers due by 28 February.The proposed rebate items for styrene-butadiene rubber for the manufacture of tyres, and cotton woven fabrics for the manufacture of wadding, gauze, bandages due by 21 Febr ua r y.
