On 13 December 2024, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) called for comment on the creation of a temporary rebate facility on “Profiles of aluminium-copper-magnesium-zinc alloys, of a maximum cross-sectional dimension of 320mm or more but not exceeding 340mm, having a copper content of less than 0,1%, a magnesium content of less than 1% and a zinc content of less than 0.1%, with a yield strength of 220mpa or more but not exceeding 240mpa, classifiable under tariff subheading 7604.29.” Comment is due by 07 January 2025.
The application was lodged by GRW Engineering (Pty) Ltd who reasoned that:
- The specifications of the extruded profiles are beyond what the local industry can currently produce;
- While there are existing temporary rebate facilities under 76.04, the specifications do not precisely align with the ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (MSA) product needs;
- The manufacturing of this product comes with a significant capital investment and contributes to skills development in the country; and
- The import duty unnecessarily raises the cost of the finished product, the fuel tankers.