With the worsening international trade environment, there are, conceivably, only two things that a company could do, and should be doing: retaining existing clients (considering the cost of getting new clients) and reducing costs, including manufacturing and administration costs.

One of the more overlooked elements, when considering costs, are duties – the rate of customs and excise duties, to be exact. Although duties are, no doubt, mentioned and noted in discussions about a product’s value chain, they are almost always considered to be a fixed cost. But are they, really?

Assume for the moment that you are a South African manufacturer of products, certain inputs of which are imported. Also, assume that you pay customs duty on the imported products. Have you ever asked yourself what the rate of customs duty on the imported product, in its final form, is?

Have you asked yourself why the prevailing rate of customs duty is at the level where it is? Have you also asked why there is a rate of customs duty on the imported products?

If you have not asked yourself these questions before, do so now. Even if you have asked these questions before but have not pursued them until you got answers, you should also  do so now.

It is possible to trace the tariff dispensation for any of your products to the introduction of the Harmonised Systems (HS) in South Africa, on January 1, 1988.

By doing this you would be able to analyse the tariff history of the tariff dispensation and also determine the merit of initiating a tariff application. If you are interested in learning more on tracking the tariff history of a product, please send me an email with the words 'Tariff History' in the the subject line.

Trade Remedy Amendments – March 6
The deletion of antidumping duties on boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles of plaster or of compositions based on plaster, faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard only, not ornamented, manufactured by Siam Gypsum Industry and PT Petrojaya Boral Plasterboard.

The imposition of antidumping duties on boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles of plaster or of compositions based on plaster, faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard only, not ornamented, imported from or originating in Thailand.

The imposition of antidumping duties on boards, sheets, panels, tiles and similar articles of plaster or of compositions based on plaster, faced or reinforced with paper or paperboard only, not ornamented, imported from or originating in Indonesia.

Tariff Amendments – March 6
A rebate provision has been created for textured filament yarn of polyester, measuring 75 dtex or more for a single yarn but not exceeding 650 dtex and having a tenacity not exceeding 45 cN/tex, at such times as may be allowed by specific permit for the manufacture of textiles and textile articles.

Zumanomics Book Launch – March 18
On March 18, a book edited by Professor Raymond Parson and titled Zumanomics: Which Way to Shared Prosperity in South Africa?, was launched. According to the editor, the analyses presented provide valuable insights into the economic and political map that South African will need in the years ahead, if shared prosperity is to be achieved on a much bigger scale.

Appointment of Itac Commissioners
In a statement  issued in December, after its meeting, Cabinet announced that the appointment of four commissioners to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) had been approved. According to the statement, LB Mabaso was appointed Itac deputy chief commissioner and  R Mkhwanazi, C Viljoen de Lange and M Marokolo were appointed part-time commissioners for three years.

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