Itac on 22 March 2013 advised of the proposed increase in the “General” (Most Favoured Nation) rate of customs duty on graphite electrodes (of a kind used for furnaces), classifiable under tariff subheading 8545.11, from a rate of customs duty of free to 10% ad valorem. The applicant, GrafTech South Africa (Pty) Ltd, provided the following reasons for the application (i) it is the only manufacturer of graphite electrodes in the SACU region and is suffering serious injury as a result of rapidly increasing imports at declining import unit prices; (ii) the low priced imports have severely affected the profitability of the business; (ii) the company’s investment in the SACU economy is under threat because of the serious injury being caused by imports; and (iii) as the sole SACU region manufacturer of graphite electrodes, GrafTech South Africa (Pty) Ltd and its products are essential to a number of industries, and it is in the best interests of the SACU economy to retain this important investment. Comments are due by April 19, 2013.
