South Africa recently raised its tariff on beet and cane sugar to 4.0179 ZAR ($0.28) per kilogram, according to a notice in its Government Gazette. The tariff increase applies to subheadings 1701.12, 1701.13, 1701.14, 1701.91 and 1701.99.The tariff had been 3.6957 ZAR ($0.26) per kilogram since December. "The SARS uses a variable tariff formula in order to adjust the import duty to a dollar-based reference price (DBRP)," Global Trade Alert said in a note on the tariff increase. "The DBRP represents the lowest duty-free price an importer pays in order to import goods to the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). In case the price dips below the DBRP, a duty is levied."

In the March 5 edition of the Official Journal of the European Union the following trade-related notices were posted:

Chile has increased tariff discounts applicable to imports of wheat, flour and meslin, according to a notice issued by the Chilean Ministry of Finance. Discounts for imports of wheat under subheadings 1001.91.00 and 1001.99.11-1001.99.99 are now set at $117.45 per ton, and discounts for imports of flour under subheading 1101.00.00 are now $183.22 per ton. They had previously been set at $91.69 and $143.04 per ton, respectively, according to Global Trade Alert. The increase took effect Feb. 16, and will remain in effect for two months.

Brazil has notified the World Trade Organization that it intends to put in place $180 million in tariffs on certain goods from the European Union in retaliation for the EU’s steel safeguards. The tariff would apply to certain goods of heading 0402 at 15%, of 0703 at 19%, of 2402 at 11%, of 4202 at 19% or 11%, of 4203 at 11%, of 6403 at 19%, of 8113 at 10%, of 8703 at 19%, of 9004 at 11%, of 9403 at 10%, of 9503 at 19%, of 9504 at 11%, of 9506 at 11%, and of 9614 at 10%. Affected goods include milk, cigars and cigarettes, jewelry, certain motor vehicles, playing cards, sports equipment, garlic, purses, apparel, footwear, sunglasses, wooden furniture and toys. Not all goods within those subheadings would be affected. The amount of the tariffs is equal to the harm Brazil says will result from an EU tariff rate quota on Brazilian steel with an out-of-quota rate of 25%. Brazil may impose the tariffs beginning 30 days after notification, which was dated Feb. 18.

Argentina Customs recently increased reference prices used to set minimum per unit valuation for imports of motorcycle helmets under subheading 6506.10.00 from a handful of countries in Asia, and added a new reference price for bicycle helmets from those countries, according to a notice in its Boletin Oficial. Reference prices for motorcycle helmets were increased to $16-$100, depending on materials used in the helmet, up from $13-$14, according to a note from Global Trade Alert. Reference prices for bicycle helmets were set at $2.82 to $4.50. The reference prices apply to merchandise from North Korean and South Korea, China, the Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, according to the notice.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sent an AIRS update announcing that it has increased restrictions on release of certain egg products from bird species other than chickens of subheadings 0408.11.0274 and 0408.91.0278 imported for certain uses from every U.S. state except Arkansas, California, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin. The change applies to goods imported with the end uses "other end uses," "samples for testing," "scientific use (research)," and "show or exhibition," the update said.

China will lower its value-added-tax rates on certain goods and services from 16 percent to 13 percent and from 10 percent to 9 percent, China's Premier Li Keqiang said during the opening of the county's annual meeting of its National People's Congress on March 5, according to multiple reports. While Li said the new 13 percent VAT will apply to manufacturing and the 9 percent will apply to transportation and construction, KPMG projects the scope of the rate changes to broad, with the 13 percent rate applying to all Chinese imports. Li did not announce when the new rates will take effect, although they are expected this year.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added one entity and made one change to its Specially Designated Nationals List, under Counter Terrorism designations, OFAC said in a March 5 notice. The office added Harakat Al-Nujaba, a terrorism group, and updated information on Arkam ‘Abbas Al-Kabi, an Iraqi national. The terrorist group is associated with Iraq and Syria, according to the notice.

Failure to provide the Canada Border Services Agency with proof of origin upon request, corrections to origin declarations, or reports of diverted goods are among customs compliance violations that will face steeper penalties starting in April, the CBSA said in a March 5 notice. The CBSA previously said it planned to increase the Administrative Monetary Penalties for trade compliance violations (see 1903040034), but had not provided details on the changes.

C.H. Robinson will buy The Space Cargo Group for about $48 million, the company said in a news release. The Space Cargo Group is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, and offers customs brokerage and international freight forwarding services, it said. “We continue to look for ways to capitalize on the opportunity to grow globally, in part by acquiring leading local providers that share our commitment of best-in-class service and execution," said Bob Biesterfeld, who will become CEO of C.H. Robinson in May. "This enables us to better support our customers of all sizes and enhance returns as we integrate these companies into our global business.”