In the Government Gazette of April 12, the Department of Transport published for public comment applications for international status for Rand Airport, Grand Central Airport, Wonderboom Airport and Nkangala International Airport. These applications are to be considered by the Airport Coordinating Committee.

Comments are due by May 12.

Taps and Mixers Tariff Application
On April 12, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) informed of the substitu- tion of tariff subheading 8481.80.79 (Schedule No 1, Part 1, of the Customs and Excise Act) to increase the ‘general’ rate of customs duty from 15% ad valorem (the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade, or Gatt, bound rate) to 20% ad valorem.

Tariff subheading 8481.80.79 reads: “Hose or bibcocks, pillar cocks, water mixing taps, thermostatically controlled mixing valves (bath, washbasin, bidet, shower or sink type), shower units, water- tank locking taps, cooking range taps or tapping ferrules for offtake pipes of an outside diameter not exceeding 32 mm.”
The tariff amendment is effective from April 12.

The application was initiated by Cobra Watertech, which, at the time of application, argued that imported products originating from East and South Asia enjoyed huge price advantages over domestically manufactured taps and mixers and had made significant inroads into the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) market. It further argued that the industry was a downstream industry manufacturing a labour-intensive final product and that the domestic industry endeavoured to source material and utilities domestically. However, the cost of inputs such as brass rods, electricity and labour had increased substantially. The industry has made significant capital investments and foreign exchange was earned through exports. This application was aimed at providing some relief to the local industry and would not translate into a price increase. The building industry in the Sacu region had been in a depressed state and this had resulted in the worsening state of the domestic copper and brass industries.
WTO Candidate List
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) announced on April 12 that five candi- dates had advanced to the second round of consultations, which was scheduled to begin on April 16 and be concluded on April 24.

The five candidates, listed in order of nomination, are Mari Elka Pangestu (Indonesia), Tim Groser (New Zealand), Herminio Blanco (Mexico), Taeho Bark (Republic of Korea) and Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo (Brazil).

World Trade in 2012
On April 10, the WTO reported that world trade growth fell to 2.0% in 2012, from 5.2% in 2011, and is expected to remain sluggish in 2013 at around 3.3% as the economic slowdown in Europe continues to suppress global import demand. Says WTO director-general Pascal Lamy: “The events of 2012 should serve as a reminder that the structural flaws in economies that were revealed by the economic crisis have not been fully addressed despite important progress in some areas. Repairing these fissures needs to be the priority for 2013.”

WCO PICARD Conference 2013
The World Customs Organisation (WCO) has put out a call for papers to be pre- sented at the eighth PICARD 2013 Conference, to be held in St Petersburg, Russia, from September 18 to 20. The papers should deal with the promotion of research-based knowledge to support customs decision-making. The conference will focus on the following three topics: the impact on customs of the development, implementation and administration of regional integration initiatives; the WCO Economic Competi- tiveness Package; and enhancing professionalism in customs, with emphasis on operationalising the PICARD 2020 Strategic Document.