Category / Non Tariff Barriers

by Mike Poverello

Shipping lines get tough over new EU cargo information rules

Seems like ‘cargo reporting’ is becoming as infectious as a virus! The shipping industry has warned its customers that failure to comply with new EU regulations will mean fines and their cargo will not be loaded. Following similar measures introduced by the US in 2002, it seems that not only is there a possibility of “fines” and “no loading of cargo”, but that shipping lines even get to cash in on a revenue opportunity; some to the extent of US$25 per bill of lading. It absolutely amazes me that this is allowed to happen – talk about non-tariff barriers!  While SARS, for example, can give thousands of ZA Rands worth of intellectual property (for free) to the trading community – with the hope of making trading easier – why can the bastions of the sea not do likewise? Seems as though the “war on terror” has been interpreted by some as a ‘cash cow’!  Read the full article online: www.bdpinternational.com.

 

by Mike Poverello

Southern and Eastern Africa – Report non-tariff barriers online

An online mechanism is available for parties to report and monitor non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that have been encountered in SADC, Comesa and the EAC. Members of the public, including economic operators and academic researchers, can register as users on the website to submit and track complaints. After a complaint is submitted it is reviewed by the system administrator which will either accept or reject the complaint as a valid NTB. If it is valid the National Focal Point is assigned to resolve the complaint through bilateral consultations with the member state against which the complaint was reported.

Traders in the different member states, public and private sector, can also submit a written complaint to the National Focal Point of that state. Traders in South Africa, for instance, need to forward their complaint notification forms to either the Department of Trade and Industry [DTI – public sector focal point] or Business Unity South Africa [BUSA -private sector focal point] depending on the sector to which the trader belongs. The member states will then address the complaint through bilateral consultations.

Access the Online facility at URL: www.tradebarriers.org