South Africa’s trade-control agency proposed a 15% import tax on new energy vehicle batteries to boost local capacity and encourage original equipment manufacturers to build units in the country, Business Day reported.
The International Trade Administration Commission also proposed that the trade minister raises the number of materials that qualify as standard under the government’s Automotive Production Development Programme to support local battery manufacturing, the Johannesburg newspaper, citing ITAC Chief Commissioner Ayabonga Cawe.
The National Treasury has allocated R1 billion ($56 million) to support local production of new electric vehicles and batteries.
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