Global Trade Alert

On 1 October 2010, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued Notice no. 847 exempting the import tariff on certain types of petroleum hydrocarbons.
 
The duty reduction was requested by Karbochem (Pty) to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC). The ITAC in turn recommended a tariff exemption, as Treated Distillate Aromatic Extract (TDAE) and Residual Aromatic Extract (RAE) used in the production of rubber and pneumatic tires are not manufactured in the SACU.
 
Rebate provision
In order to protect domestic producers, the duty free import is subject to a permit, which is only granted as long as a shortage of the good in question exists.
 
Hence, the government did not change the tariff schedule, but introduced a rebate provision classified under 307.07/2710.11/01.06 and 307.08/2710.11/01.06 with the following descriptions, respectively:

• Blends of complex petroleum hydrocarbons classifiable in tariff subheading 2710.11.90, for use as plasticisers in the manufacture of synthetic rubber classifiable in tariff heading 40.02, in such quantities, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit
  
• Blends of complex petroleum hydrocarbons classifiable in tariff subheading 2710.11.90, for use as plasticisers in the manufacture of pneumatic tyres classifiable in tariff heading 40.11, in such quantities, at such times, and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission may allow by specific permit

 
The regular tariff schedule is 11c/li in general as well as for EU and EFTA member states. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is exempted from a duty.
 
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.