South Africa’s tax and customs authority has completed the legal and operational framework needed to administer China’s temporary zero‑tariff scheme, clearing the way for exporters to begin using the system from 1 June.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said it will begin issuing Rules of Origin certificates on Monday, enabling exporters to claim duty‑free access for eligible goods under China’s unilateral tariff‑relief programme for African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.
“From 1 June, SARS is issuing origin certificates retrospectively to cater for qualifying goods that were shipped or cleared after 1 May 2026, so they can still benefit fully from the zero tariffs,” SARS commissioner Johnstone Makhubu said in a statement on Sunday.
Beijing announced the zero-tariff scheme in February as part of its broader trade‑facilitation push on the continent.
Makhubu said the agency had adopted a simplified, printable certificate format to speed up compliance and ensure exporters can “prove origin and claim the tariff preference straight away”.
As an interim measure, exporters may lodge security with China’s customs authority if a certificate is not yet available, with the security released once a valid SARS‑issued certificate is submitted.
SARS cautioned that not all products qualify for zero‑tariff treatment, which depends strictly on meeting China’s rules of origin and presenting the correct documentation.
The agency urged exporters to verify eligibility with Chinese trading partners, maintain proper origin records and follow SARS procedures closely to avoid delays or disqualification.
JN/APA