On 24 January, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) called for comment on the creation of a rebate provision on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), classifiable in tariff subheading 4002.19.90, for the manufacture of tyres classifiable in tariff heading 40.11.
The application was lodged by Sumitomo Rubber (Pty) Ltd who reasoned that there was no local manufacturer of styrene-butadiene rubber in the Sacu region as the sole manufacturer of the subject product closed in 2018. Consequently, the customs duty on SBR imposes additional input costs in the tyre manufacturing process.
Comment is due by 21 February.