The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) has made a preliminary finding that circumvention of the antidumping duties on windscreens for vehicles is taking place and that it is causing material injury to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) industry.

Windscreen manufacturer and auto glass distributor Shatterprufe had applied to Itac alleging that circumvention of the antidumping duties on windscreens for vehicles, intended for use in the SACU market as replacement glass in the aftermarket, was taking place.

Shatterprufe had also applied to Itac, alleging that circumvention of the antidumping duties on windscreens for vehicles used in the SACU market as replacement glass in the aftermarket was taking place through country-hopping from China to Malaysia.

Itac found that the antidumping duties on vehicle windscreens, imposed in the original investigation, are being circumvented through tariff hopping.

Specifically, imports of the subject product from China are being classified under the Windscreens tariff subheading 7007.21.20, which is not subject to the antidumping duty, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the duties imposed on imports under the applicable tariff subheading 8708.22.10, it found.

Therefore, Itac has requested the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to impose provisional duties equivalent to the existing antidumping duties on imports of vehicle windscreens classifiable under the applicable tariff subheading 8708.22.10.

These provisional measures were implemented by Sars on October 31, Itac says.

Itac also found that the subject product is being imported from related companies in Malaysia, thereby undermining the duties originally imposed on imports originating in or imported from China.

Owing to the findings, the commission has requested the Sars Commissioner to impose provisional duties on imports classifiable under the Windscreens tariff subheading.

This is based on the concern that the proposed anti-dumping provisional measures on subheading 7007.21.20 may be circumvented through the importation of similar goods under subheading 8708.22.10. which could potentially undermine the effectiveness of the proposed anti-dumping measures.

Itac invites public comments on its preliminary findings. Interested parties can submit written comments within 14 days of the release of the preliminary report.