On 20 October the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) published a proposal for the creation of temporary rebate provisions on ordinary customs and safeguard duties applicable to flat-rolled products of other alloy steel of a width of 600mm or more, other, classifiable in tariff subheading 7225.99, in such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as Itac may allow by specific permit, provided the products are not available on the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) market.
The application was lodged by Leong Jin Special Steel (Africa) (Pty) Ltd who reasoned that (i) There are no manufacturers of the subject product in the Sacu region; and (ii) The customs duty currently imposed on the subject product has an unnecessary cost raising effect on the domestic downstream fabrication and manufacturing industry. As a result, current investments are on hold and the Sacu industry is unable to increase employment.
Comment is due by 3 November.