On 21 July 2021, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) called for comment on the Ministerial Directive to review the ‘general’ customs duty on frozen mixed vegetables classifiable under tariff subheading 0710.90. Comment is due by 18 August 2023.
Subsequent to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition’s decision to reject a recommendation to increase the customs duty on frozen mixed vegetables from 10% ad valorem to 37% ad valorem, the Minister directed ITAC, in terms of section 16(1) (d) (ii) of the International Trade Administration Act (ITA Act), Act 71 of 2002, to review the customs duty on frozen mixed vegetables. This is owing to the minister’s acknowledgement that circumstances in the context of high food prices that affect both poor and middle-class consumers and continuing pressures on household incomes from external shocks to the economy, may change in the future, given that the current geopolitical tensions may subside, and food prices stabilise as the global economy recovers from the impact of Covid-19.