Trade Law Chambers | What's On
Rian Geldenhuys awarded Client Choice Award
Rian Geldenhuys has been awarded Lexology's Client Choice Award for Trade and Customs in South Africa for 2022.
Lexology's Client Choice Award recognizes those law firms and partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent client care they provide and the quality of their service. The criteria for this recognition focus on an ability to add real value to clients' business above and beyond the other players in the market. Uniquely, law firms and partners can only be nominated by corporate counsel.
© Trade Law Chambers 2022
Rian Geldenhuys again named as one of world's leading Trade and Customs Lawyers
We are delighted to announce that Rian Geldenhuys has again been named by Who’s Who Legal as one of the world’s leading Trade and Customs Lawyers.
Rian Geldenhuys named for the 6th consecutive year as one of the World’s Leading Trade and Customs Lawyers
We are delighted to announce that Rian Geldenhuys has again been named by Who’s Who Legal as being one of the world’s leading Trade and Customs Lawyers.
Rian Geldenhuys included in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers 2022 South Africa
Best Lawyers© have published their 13th Edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa for 2022.
Rian Geldenhuys has been included in the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa as he has been recognized for this expertise in trade law as well as international arbitration.
To read the 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa kindly click here.
© Trade Law Chambers 2021
Rian Geldenhuys included in the 2021 Edition of the Best Lawyers in South Africa
Best Lawyers© have published their 12th Edition of The Best Lawyers in South Africa for 2021.
Rian Geldenhuys again named as one of the World’s Leading Trade and Customs Lawyers
We are delighted to announce that Rian Geldenhuys has again been named by Who’s Who Legal as being one of the world’s leading Trade and Customs Lawyers.
Rian Geldenhuys included in Best Lawyers' 2020 Global Business Edition
Best Lawyers© have, for the fifth consecutive year, published their Global Business Edition for 2020. The Global Business Edition is the definitive guide which connect leasers in the international legal community with the most influential businesses.
Unlocking Africa's Trade and Investment Potential
On 19 August and 2 September 2020 the African Scotland Business network hosted two webinars in partnerhsip with the FirstRand Group and Trade Law Chambers. The webinars provided an overview of the key investment markets in Africa both for South African based businesses as well as United Kingdom based businesses.
Business Unusual: a Roadmap out of Lockdown for the Western Cape
On Thursday 7 May 2020, the British Chamber of Business hosted a webinar on the roadmap for the future of South Africa's lockdown levels.
Level 4 Lockdown Regulations Webinar Discussion with British Chamber
On Thursday 30 April 2020, the British Chamber of Business hosted a webinar on Level 4 of South Africa's Covid-19 lockdown, entitled "Smokes, sushi and curfew - plotting the route out of lockdown". Trade Law Chambers participated as a panelist in addressing the current regulations.
SA to enter Level 4 of Lockdown
As the President Ramaphosa announced on 23 April 2020, South Africa will enter Level 4 of lockdown on 1 May 2020 after having been in Level 5 since 27 March 2020. The various levels will allow for the gradual easing of the restrictions currently in place.
Uncertainty prevails during Covid-19’s rein
Over the last four months, the world has looked on as a virus first gradually caused concern and then suddenly raged as an overwhelming pandemic.
Review of anti-dumping duties on poultry
On 24 February 2020, two days before the current anti-dumping duties on poultry (specifically frozen bone-in portions imported from Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) would have expired, the International Trade Administration Commission (“ITAC”) initiated a sunset review of the anti-dumping duties.
SA no longer eligible for US subsidy preference
On 10 February 2020, the United States of America revoked the subsidy preference for some developing nations, including South Africa. The change is an amendment to the United States’ internal list of developing and least-developed countries used specifically in subsidy or countervailing measure investigations.
Deadline for South Africa's submission to US for GSP eligibility
On Friday 25 October 2019 the office of the US Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that the United States plans to review South Africa’s continued eligibility under the Generalised System of Preference (“GSP”). Under the United States’ GSP countries benefit from tariff reductions and tariff eliminations on numerous products being imported into the United States.
Further uncertainty in global trade
2019 has been a rather turbulent period in global trade with the US and China tariff war, the uncertainty regarding Brexit and South Africa’s eligibility under the Generalised System of Preferences to name but a few events. Yet despite this, the global trading system is about to receive another shock that will inevitably bring more uncertainty.
BREXIT: UK and SACU plus Mozambique EPA
With the looming deadlines of the UK’s exit from the European Union the UK has hurriedly tried to ensure that it has continuing trade relations
SA exports to US at risk
On Friday 25 October 2019 the office of the US Trade Representative (“USTR”) announced that the United States plans to review South Africa’s continued eligibility under the Generalised System of Preference (“GSP”).
ITAC calls for sunset review applications to extend anti-dumping duties
On 24 May 2019 ITAC published a notice warning of the imminent lapse of anti-dumping duties on garlic, stainless steel sinks, wheelbarrows, float and flat glass, frozen bone-in chicken and cement.
Client lunch : Brexit and Africa's Investment Potential
Trade Law Chambers partnered with First National Bank and Rand Merchant Bank to co-host a client lunch at Hidden Valley Wines.
Possible increase in customs duties on aluminum, photovoltaic modules and washing machines
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) initiated three tariff amendment applications.
ITAC initiates safeguard investigation on fasteners
On 1 March 2019 ITAC (the International Trade Administration of South Africa) initiated a safeguard investigation on imports of threaded fasteners of iron on steel: bolt ends and screw studs, screw studding and other hexagon nuts (excluding those of stainless steel and those identifiable for aircraft).
Application for increase in customs duties on mixtures of frozen vegetables
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) initiated an investigation into the increase of the rate of customs duty on imports of mixtures of frozen vegetables. The proposed increase is from the current 10% to 37%.
Guidelines for rebate of anti-dumping duty on USA chickens
The International Trade Administration Commission has published guidelines for the rebate of anti-dumping duties on poultry imported from the United States of America.
Rian Geldenhuys again named as one of World's Leading Trade and Customs Lawyers
We are delighted to announce that Rian Geldenhuys has again been named by Who’s Who Legal as being one of the world’s leading Trade and Customs Lawyers.
Public Interest Hearing : Safeguards
On 20 April 2018, the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa initated an investigation into the imposition of possible safeguard action against the increased imports of other screws fully threaded with hexagon heads made of steel.
Rian Geldenhuys named amongst the World's Leading Trade and Customs Lawyers
We are delighted to annouce that Rian Geldehuys has again been named by Who's Who Legal as being among the world's leading Trade & Customs lawyers. Rian has been selected by his clients and peers and the recognition has just been published in Who's Who Legal: Trade and Customs 2017.
© Trade Law Chambers 2017
Global Britain—spotlight on international trade with South Africa
What opportunities and challenges would a trade deal with South Africa present the UK? Rian Geldenhuys, director at Trade Law Chambers, explains why it is important for the UK to be clear and transparent on its interests before entering into a trade deal with South Africa. Please read the full interview on the Lexisnexis UK Website here (registration is required).
World's leading Trade & Customs lawyers
We are delighted to annouce that Rian Geldehuys has been named by Who's Who Legal as being among the world's leading Trade & Customs lawyers. Rian has been selected by his clients and peers and the recognition will be published in Who's Who Legal: Trade and Customs 2016 in November 2016.
Expiry of anti-dumping duties
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) recently published a notice in terms of which several SACU industries are called upon to show good cause why the current anti-dumping duties in force should not expire in 2017.
Brexit Discussion
Trade Law Chambers in collaboration with Rand Merchant Bank will be hosting a discussion on the trade implications of Brexit and what the vote holds for South African business as well as the African market midst this uncertainty.
SADC and EU sign EPA
After years of negotiations certain SADC (Southern African Development Community) Member States have finally signed the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). The SADC configuration for the EPA consist of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The EPA agreement finally addresses the concerns of the old Cotonou Agreement and will replace South Africa’s Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with the EU.
Under the SADC EPA Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland will have 100% duty free access to the EU market. South Africa’s access to the EU market is different as only 98.7% of the customs duties have been partly or wholly removed. The EU does not have the same level of access to the SADC EPA Member States’ markets. Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland removed approximately 86% of their duties whilst Mozambique removed 74% of its duties for EU imports.
Although the negotiations began in 2004 and the agreement has now been signed, each SADC EPA Member State and the European Parliament must now ratify the agreement before it comes into force.
For more information on the SADC EU Economic Partnership Agreement, kindly do not hesitate to contact us.
Rian Geldenhuys
© Trade Law Chambers 2016
Application to increase tariffs on stainless steel flat products
ITAC received an application to increase the tariffs on stainless steel flat products from being duty free to 10% ad valorem. The application covers the entire spectrum of flat-rolled products of stainless steel.
ITAC initiates safeguard action against flat-rolled iron and steel
On 24 March 2016 ITAC initiated a safeguard investigation on certain flat-rolled iron and steel products. Safeguards may be taken if an industry can show that there were unforeseen devleopments that led to a surge in imports that caused serious injury to a domestic industry. The safguard measure that may be imposed either takes the form of an annual quota or the equivalent in tariffs.
ITAC initiates sunset review on anti-dumping duties on glass from India
The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa initiated a sunset review of the anti-dumping duties on unframed glass mirrors originating in or imported from India. The sunset review is needed as the original anti-dumping duties were set to expire on 3 March 2016. The applicant, PFG Building Glass, demonstrated a prima facie dumping margin of 188.18%.
The initiation notice was published on 19 February 2016 and interested parties must submit their information by no later than 30 days from 19 February.
For further information kindly do contact Rian Geldenhuys.
© Trade Law Chambers 2016
ITAC initiates safeguard investigations against EU chicken
The South African Poultry Association brought an application to impose safeguard measures against frozen bone-in chicken portions imported from the European Union. The application is brought in terms of Article 16 of the Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement ("TDCA") between the European Union and South Africa. The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa ("ITAC") has initiated an inverstigation into whether safeguard measures are warranted. As such, should the investigation into the imposition of safeguard measures find that safeguard measures are warranted, any safeguard measure imposed would only be against the European Union and not against any other World Trade Organisation ("WTO") member state.
The initiation notice was published on 19 February 2016 and interested parties must submit their information by no later than 20 days from 19 February.
For further information kindly do contact Rian Geldenhuys.
© Trade Law Chambers 2016
AGOA: Rebate provision for bone-in Chicken from USA
To read the draft guidelines for the application for a rebate permit for anti-dumping duties on bone-in chicken from the USA, please click here.
Kindly note that comments are due by 13 November 2015.
Expiry of certain anti-dumping duties
On 19 June 2015 the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) published a notice in terms of which several SACU industries are called upon to show good cause why the current anti-dumping duties in force should not expire in 2016. SACU manufacturers have until 27 July 2015 to submit a request to ITAC to have the anti-dumping duty reviewed before its expiry.
Tripartite Free Trade Area launched
On 10 June 2015, the Heads of State and Government of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area. The aim is to have a single market of 26 countries with a combined population of 632 million people which should bolster trade amongst the member countries and increase investment flows into the single market.
08-06-2015 | Best International Trade Law Firm - South Africa
Trade Law Chambers has been announced as the Best International Trade Law Firm in South Africa. Trade Law Chambers is a proud winner of one of the 2015 M&A Awards awarded by Acquisition International.