Screws safeguard imposed
On August 3, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) announced the imposition of a provisional safeguard duty of 42.09% in Part 3 of Schedule No.2 (Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Imported Goods – Safeguard Duties on Imported Goods) to the Customs and Excise Act No.91 of 1964 on imports of other screws, fully threaded with hexagon heads, made of steel, classifiable in tariff subheading 7318.15. The provisional payment is imposed from the said date, up to and including 18 February next year, the reasoning for which is contained in the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) Report No.589.
Sugar reference price duty
SARS on August 3 announced the increase in the General, European Union (EU), European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and MERCOSUR rates of customs duty on sugar in Part 1 of Schedule No.1 to the Act, 1964 (Ordinary Customs Duty) classifiable in tariff subheadings 1701.12, 1701.13, 1701.14, 1701.91, and 1701.99, from 233.81c/kg to 419.52c/ kg, which is due to the Dollar-Based Reference Price increase from US$566/ton to US$680/ton. The reasoning for the existing variable tariff formula increase can be found in ITAC Report No.588. On June 2, Sars announced the rates of customs duty on sugar from 213.1c/kg to 233.81c/kg. The reasoning for the tariff amendment is contained in ITAC Minute No.05/2018.
Ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers duty
On August 3, Sars announced the reduction in the “General” rate of customs of ethylenealpha-olefin copolymers having a specific gravity of less than 0.94, classifiable in tariff subheading 3901.40, in Part 1 of Schedule No.1 to the Act, 1964 (Ordinary Customs Duty) from 10% ad valorem to free. The reasoning for the tariff amendment is contained in ITAC Report No.584.
Structural steel rebate
Sars on August 3 announced the insertion of Rebate Items 460.15/7216.32/01.06 and 460.15/7216.33/01.06 in Part 2 of Schedule No.4 to the Act, 1964, (Rebates and Refunds of Customs Duties, Excise Duties, Fuel Levy, Road Accident Fund Levy, Environmental Levy and Health Promotion Levy - Temporary Rebates of Customs Duties) for the importation of certain structural steel in the form of H and I sections. The reasoning for the tariff amendments are contained in ITAC Report No.577.
Coated wood board safeguard On July 31, Morocco initiated a safeguard investigation on coated wood board, classifiable in tariff subheadings 4410.11.20.11, 4410.11.20.19, 4410.11.20.90, 4410.11.30.11, 4410.11.30.19, 4410.11.30.90, 4410.19.92.11, 4410.19.92.19, 4410.19.92.90, 4410.19.93.11, 4410.19.93.19, and 4410.19.93.90 on which comment is due by August 30. The investigation was initiated following Cema Bois de L’atlas’ petition, lodged on behalf of the Moroccan industry.
WCO Single Window e-learning
The World Customs Organization on August 2 announced the launch of its e-learning modules following the recently reviewed version of its Single Window Compendium, “Building a Single Window Environment”.
