23 Feb 2024

Sumitomo Rubber South African(Pty)Ltd (herein referred to as “Sumitomo Rubber” or the applicant”) applied for the creation of a rebate provision for the importation of synthetic rubber classifiable under tariff subheading 4002.19.90, used in the manufacture of tyres classifiable under tariff heading 40.11.

The International Trade Administration Commission (“ITAC” or the “Commission”) considered the application in light of all the information at its disposal. In particular, the Commission took the following factors into account:

• There are currently no known manufacturers of synthetic rubber used in the manufacture of tyres in the South African Customs Union region; and
• The customs duty on the imported subject products has an unnecessary cost raising on the production of tyres.

The Commission concluded that tariff relief, through the creation of a rebate provision will contribute to a reduction in the cost of production and improvement on the global competitive position of the domestic industry manufacturing tyres.

The Commission recommended that the creation of a rebate provision of customs duty application to synthetic rubber classifiable under tariff subheading 4002.19.90, used in the manufacture of tyres classifiable under tariff heading 40.11.

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ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA