Eligible applicants invited to apply
ALAN PEAT
IN A rather remiss sort of way, handcrafted folkwear and ethnic printed fabrics have not been included up to now in SA’s list of eligible duty-free export products to the US under that country’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
But the department of trade and industry (dti) has recognised there is a market niche here, according to Riaan de Lange, customs and trade consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, and is now busy preparing a list of appropriate, locally handmade products so the authorities can apply to the US committee for the implementation of textile agreements asking that they be included in the Agoa list.
On April 29 the dti published a request which said that “interested parties are invited to make optimal use of this opportunity by submitting their list which should contain details including contact information of the company, descriptions and sample of each hand-loomed; handmade and folklore article and ethnic printed fabrics product”.
To qualify for duty-free status, the dti stated that the US government would determine which particular products should be designated as fitting the definitions.
De Lange pointed out that, in the application to the dti, each item of folklore should include the article’s name, as well as a detailed description.
Meanwhile, the folklore goods may not include “modern” features such as zippers, elastic, elasticised fabric, hook-and-pile fasteners (such as “Velcro”).
Added De Lange: “As each item’s design must be uniquely traditional and historical in nature, patterns such as airplanes, buses, cowboys, cartoon characters and holiday/festival designs (such as Halloween and Thanksgiving) not common to sub-Saharan African culture, would not be permitted.”
The government gazette of April 29, provides details of what qualifies as “ethnic printed fabrics”.
The textiles, clothing, footwear, leather task team of NEDLAC has nominated a three-man panel to compile the hand-loomed; handmade and folklore articles and ethnic printed fabrics list.
The deadline for submitting this information is May 31.
For those aspirant ethnic producer/exporters amongst our readers out there, further information can be acquired from Thabo Chauke at the dti – Tel: 012 394-3053.
