Global Trade Alert

On 6 February 2015, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) increased the tariff rate on certain wire products from 5% to 15% ad valorem. The tariff affects 'barbed wire of iron or steel; twisted hoop or single flat wire, barbed or not, and loosely twisted double wire, of a kind used for fencing, of iron or steel':

• HS 7314.31 (plated or coated with zinc)
• HS 7314.41 (plated or coated with zinc)

 
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) decided to raise the customs duty since the SACU industry is not price competitive vis-ŕ-vis imports. Thus, the duty applies to products entering the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The EU, EFTA and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are exempted from the tariff.