The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has invited comment, by August 16, on draft tariff investigations regulations.

The notice, published in the Government Gazette of July 16, includes an explanation on the draft amendments.

The regulations comprise four parts and four subparts, namely part A, which deals with definitions, part B (general provisions), part C (procedures – subpart 1, general; subpart 2, preinitiation procedure; subpart 3, preliminary investigation phase; and subpart 4, final investigation phase) and part D (final provisions).

The draft regulations document is divided into 25 parts, namely definitions, scope of regulations, confidentiality, representation, oral presentations, submission of applidations, computation of periods of time, public file, additional information, assessment criteria, verifications, verification report, investigating officials, applications, acknowledgment of receipt, deficient applications, preliminary commission evaluation of an application, initiation, publication notice, comments on publication notice, deficiencies in comments received, final commission evaluation, submission of same or similar applications, delegation and application of regulations.

Picks Antidumping Duty Investigation
The antidumping investigation into the alleged dumping of picks originating in or imported from India was terminated on July 16. The initiation of the investigation was announced in the Government Gazette of October 23, 2009.

Acetaminophenol Antidumping Duty
The antidumping duty on acetaminophenol originating in or imported from France was deleted on July 14 by means of a notice published in the Government Gazette. The rate of antidumping duty that was imposed in terms of antidumping item 206.02/2924.29/04.06 was 58c/kg.

Wheat, Wheaten Flour Tariff Amendments
The rates of customs duty on wheat and wheaten flour have been increased from free of customs duty to 23,09c/kg and 39,13c/kg respectively. The tariff amendments took effect on July 15.

Hexagon Nuts Antidumping Duty
The antidumping duty on hexagon nuts of iron or steel (excluding dome nuts, nuts with nonmetallic inserts, nuts of stainless steel, nuts identifiable for use solely or principally on aircraft and collared nuts), of a thread diameter of 6 mm or more but not exceeding 36 mm (excluding self-locking nuts of a thread diameter exceeding 10 mm), classifiable under tariff subheading 7318.16 originating in or imported from Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) has been withdrawn with retrospective effect from June 2 by means of a notice published in the Government Gazette on July 16. The antidumping duty imposed in terms of antidumping item 215.02/7318.16/03.06 was 23%.

Leather Covers Tariff Amendments
The deletion of rebate item 317.06/00.00/04.00 and rebate item 317.06/42.00/01.02, and the insertion of rebate item 317.06/00.00/05.00, providing for goods of any description for use in the manufacture of leather covers, trimmings and the like designed for the interior fitment of motor vehicles by means of a notice published in the Government Gazette on July 16.

Lysine Tariff Amendments
The increase in the rate of customs duty on feed supplements containing, by mass, 40% or more lysine, whether or not containing added antibiotics or added melengestrol acetate, classifiable under tariff subheading 2309.90.65, and lysine and its esters, salts thereof classifiable under tariff subheading 2922.41 by means of a notice was published in the Government Gazette on July 16.

Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has released its Production Incentive Guidelines to Assist Local Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather Goods Manufacturers. This production incentive forms part of the overall Clothing and Textile Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) and flows from the implementation, by the DTI, of customised sector programmes for the clothing, textiles, footwear, leather and leather goods industries.

According to the DTI, guidelines seek to enable companies to present their business cases to the CTCP desk of the Industrial Development Corporation. They also provide a framework for the CTCP desk to evaluate such cases.