Delays to SA’s Import Duty Investigations Cause Barriers to Trade

It is currently taking an average of 25 months for government to complete import duty investigations and to provide the necessary Ministerial approvals for the South African Revenue Service to implement duty increases or reductions, a new report shows. Compiled by XA Global Trade Advisors, the analysis also highlights a marked slowdown in turnaround times over the past 10 years. Import duty investigations are officially meant to be concluded within 6 months. CEO Donald MacKay believes the delays are also the chief cause for a steep decline in the number of applications to the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) for duty increases or reductions.

On the other hand, the WTO Valuation Agreement provides for 6 methods to determine the Customs value of imported goods. These methods are set out in several articles of the Agreement. The basis for Customs value should be, to the greatest extent possible, the transaction value of the imported goods being valued.