Global Trade Alert

On 17 July 2010, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued Notice no. 605 exempting certain leather goods used in motor vehicles from an import duty.
 
Previously, fewer goods were exempted from the import duty. In order to keep the domestic industry competitive, the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) of South Africa recommended additional leather goods to be freed from an import tariff.
 
Rebate provision
However, the government did not change the tariff schedule, but amended the current rebate provision classified under 317.06/00.00/05.00 to include a wider range of leather products for fitment in a motor vehicle:

• Goods of any description for use in the manufacture of leather covers, trimmings or the like, whether or not combined with backing material, for supply either as made up covers, individual panels or in the form of kits designed for the interior fitment of motor vehicles, provided that the leather is supplied cut to size and shape

 
Affected trading partners
The GTA retrieves its data on affected trading partners from UN Comtrade. However, for the year 2009, the database was not able to provide the affected trading partners for Botswana, Swaziland, and Lesotho.