DUTY CALLS

Cement dumping
investigation
On 22 August 2014 the
International Trade
Administration Commission
of South Africa (Itac)
announced the initiation
of an investigation into the
alleged dumping of portland
cement, classifiable under
tariff subheading 2523.29,
originating in or imported
from Pakistan and being
dumped on the Southern
African Customs Union
(Sacu) market, causing
material injury to the Sacu
cement industry.
The application was
lodged by Afrisam (South
Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Lafarge
Industries South Africa
(Pty) Ltd, NPC Cimpor
(RF) (Pty) Ltd and PPC Ltd
who submitted sufficient
evidence and established
a prima facie case to
enable Itac to arrive at a
reasonable conclusion that
an investigation should be
initiated on the basis of
dumping, material injury
and/or threat of material
injury and causality.
Comment is due by 02
October 2014.
Caustic soda
investigation
Itac on 22 August 2014
announced the creation
of a Rebate Item (rebate
provision) on sodium
hydroxide (caustic soda) in
aqueous solution (soda lye or
liquid soda), classifiable in
tariff subheading 2815.12,
for use in the manufacture
of sodium hypo chlorite
solution, classifiable in tariff
subheading 2828.90.
The application was
lodged by NCP Chlorchem
(Pty) Ltd who reasoned
that the product in question
was not manufactured in
sufficient quantities in the
Sacu market.
Comment is due by 19
September 2014.
Iron/steel wire
customs duty
increase
On 22 August 2014 the
South African Revenue
Service (Sars) announced
an increase in the “General”
rate of customs duty
on wire of iron or nonalloy
steel, plated or clad
with other base metals,
classifiable under tariff
subheading 7217.30, from
free of customs duty to 10%
ad valorem. The application
took 130 days to complete.
Vitrifiable Enamels
Tariff
Sars on 22 August
2014 announced the
substitution of tariff
subheading 3207.20,
“Vitrifiable enamels and
glazes, engobes (slips)
and similar preparations”,
and the insertion of tariff
subheadings 3207.20.10
“Vitrifiable enamels and
similar preparations” and
3207.20.20 “Vitrifiable
glazes, engobes (slips)
and similar preparations”.
The “General” rate of
duty on tariff subheading
3207.20.10 was set at 5%
ad valorem, whilst the
remaining rate of duty is
free. The application took
182 days to complete.
Customs Control Act
Rules
On 18 August 2014 Sars
invited participation in the
first workshop session on the
Rules to Chapters 1, 3 to 10
to the Customs Control Act,
2014 to be held on 29 August
2014 at 09:00 to 13:00 at
Linton House Auditorium,
Sars, Brooklyn, Pretoria. To
reserve your place, send an
email to sauthar@sars.gov.
za, by 25 August 2014.
Duty Calls’ Watch List
Comment on “the second
batch” of draft rules of the
Customs Control Act are
due by no later than 26
September 2014. (Chapters 11
to 20 and 24).