Frozen Potato Chips Safeguard On 05 July 2013 a provisional safeguard duty of 61.42% was imposed on frozen potato chips (also known as French fries), classifiable under tariff subheading 2004.10.90. [The imposition of the safeguard was initially announced by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries on 24 June 2013 with the proposed imposition date identified as 01 July 2013.] The safeguard was imposed on 05 July 2013 up to and including 20 January 2014 excluding that imported from or originating in several countries. Due to space constraints these are not listed here but can be accessed in the Customs section of our website: ftwonline.co.za. Taxation Amendment Bills National Treasury issued a media statement and documentation on 05 July 2013 relating to the request for comment by 05 August 2013 on the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill and Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill, 2013. The following has relevance from a customs duty and trade perspective. The Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill; (i) A beneficial tax regime for companies to locate in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) approved by the Minister of Finance. (tax incentives); (ii) Proposals to revitalise the marine sector in South Africa through the implementation of an attractive tax regime; (iii) Requiring foreign e-commerce suppliers to register for VAT in order to ensure that they compete on equal footing with local e-commerce suppliers; and (iv) Streamlining the research and development (R&D) tax incentive. Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill: (i) Amendment of search and seizure provision ito Customs and Excise Act (The result of the judgement by the Western Cape High Court in the case Patric Lorenz Martin Gaertner v The South African Revenue Service in terms of which it was found that certain provisions in the Customs and Excise Act were unconstitutional; (ii) Amendments to goods unconditionally abandoned; and (iii) Goods imported or cleared from a customs and excise warehouse for the exploration for petroleum or production of petroleum. Duty Calls’ Watch List Comments by the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) industry indicating that the expiry of the trade remedy duties would be likely to lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, subsidise exports or injury are due by 29 July 2013 in respect of wire ropes (7312.10); gypsum plaster board (6809.11) and stainless steel sinks (7324.10) imported from or originating in China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia Republic of Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom will expire in 2014.
