South Africa suspended port operations at its Durban and Richards Bay ports after the logistics company overseeing operations declared force majeure this week, The Maritime Executive reported July 13. The company, Transnet, said it is concerned for the safety of its employees and their ability to travel after “days of violence” across the country. The violence has been caused by protests after South Africa’s former president was jailed in relation to a corruption probe.

Saudi Arabia recently amended its import rules for goods from other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 14. Saudi Arabia will exclude goods manufactured in GCC free zones from “preferential tariff concessions” and all goods made in the free zones no longer will be considered “locally made.” The country will also not extend preferential tariffs to imported items from GCC companies with fewer than 25% local employees and less than 40% added value after their transformation process in the GCC country, HKTDC said. The changes “reflect the increasing commercial competition between” between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as both countries pursue “similar non‑oil diversification activities.”

Pakistan recently announced changes to duty rates on a range of luxury, agricultural and nonessential goods, including chocolate, overseas coffee brands, soft drinks, fresh fruits and vegetables, stationery and sanitary items, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 13. The revised duties, which took effect July 1, include both increases and decreases and also apply to certain imported raw materials used in the textile industry, HKTDC said. Pakistan also extended duty exemptions through Dec. 31 for 61 imported medical devices and equipment used to combat COVID-19.

The United Arab Emirates recently issued a notice about antidumping duties on Gulf Cooperation Council imports of ceramic pavers and hearth, floor or wall tiles from India and China, KPMG said July 12. The rules in the notice, which took effect July 1, outline declaration requirements for paying antidumping duties, which range from 23.5% to 106%. The AD duty measures are applicable for five years beginning from June 6, 2020, KPMG said.

The United Arab Emirates and Israel recently signed an economic and trade deal following the normalization of relations between the two countries last year (see 2106070068), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 9. Under the agreement, signed June 29, both countries will allow the “free flow of goods and services,” promote more industry collaboration and find ways to improve trade and eliminate trade barriers, HKTDC said. The deal will be in effect for five years once it’s ratified, then automatically renewable for consecutive five-year periods.

Qatar became the fifth member of the Gulf Cooperation Council region to adopt the Transports Internationaux Routiers transit agreement, a global transit system that allows for sealed cargo transport between member countries, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 7. The TIR, which is backed by the United Nations, will help Qatar reduce transit time for certain imports by up to 92% and will ensure goods arrive at their destination “with the highest security standards,” HKTDC said. It said Qatar’s June implementation of the TIR will “boost the country’s position as a strategic trading partner.”

Saudi Arabia recently issued rules for determining the origin of imported goods, KPMG said July 6. The rules, which took effect July 2, “reiterate” the Gulf Cooperation Council origin conditions and also require a minimum 25% nationalization threshold “with respect” to the entity that manufactures the GCC-origin goods, KPMG said. Saudi Arabia also will treat goods manufactured by free-zone businesses as foreign goods even if those goods include raw materials of GCC origin. KPMG said the rules “appear to exclude any duty-exemption benefit to free zone businesses.” The rules also include more information about the definition for “direct consignment.”

Kenya will introduce changes to customs duties for various imports for the coming fiscal year, including agricultural products, jewelry and motorcycles, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported July 5. The country will increase duties from 25% to 30% on a range of food goods -- including peas, tomatoes and potatoes -- and place a 10% duty on luxury goods and jewelry made from precious metals and a 15% duty on imported motorcycles. Other duties were maintained, including a 25% duty on iron, steel and raw materials for manufacturing leather and footwear and a 35% duty on imported furniture. HKTDC said Kenya will also extend a duty exemption for imports used to manufacture personal protective equipment and other items to combat COVID-19.

South Africa recently reintroduced restrictions on the sale, dispensing and distribution of liquor products for two weeks due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a July 1 report. The prohibition, which took effect June 27, is the fourth ban on liquor since lockdowns began in March 2020 and will affect imported liquor products, USDA said. The agency said this could “dampen the recovery and growth” of U.S. liquor exports this year.

Nigeria recently opened a railway connecting two of its most populous cities, which is expected to “radically improve” the flow of goods and freight, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported June 30. The Chinese-backed railway connects Lagos to Ibadan and will help goods more easily flow from Lagos’ Apapa port complex and “substantially reduce the time and money lost to persistent traffic gridlock” at seaports, the report said. The railway will also benefit landlocked importers in countries bordering Nigeria.