U.S. exporters should see a “significant increase” in shipments of “high-value food products” to Saudi Arabia this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report released June 11. USDA said Saudi Arabia will import more due to its expanding retail sector and a “return to normal operations” within its food service sector. U.S. food exports are well positioned to increase market share because they are “generally viewed as a higher-quality product.” U.S. food exports to Saudi Arabia dropped by 5% in 2020, mainly due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA said.
Iraq recently issued several measures to impose restrictions on the transshipment of wheat and barley and to limit the import of crops from “unknown sources,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a June 8 report. The government is blocking privately imported wheat and barley “from all border outlets until further notice,” USDA said, but will still allow imports to the Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture-owned Mesopotamia General Seed Co. and the Iraqi Seed Production Co. The restrictions are an effort to “limit the entry of crops from unknown sources, unspecified harvest seasons, unclear consumption suitability” and to “deter gray market trade from smugglers and speculative traders.”
Tanzania recently issued a waiver for import duties on “machines and materials used for leather processing,” the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported June 7. The country hopes the waiver encourages local leather processing and wants to boost its domestic textile and apparel industries. The government, which has also recently eliminated more than 200 taxes and fees to help domestic producers, also plans to soon introduce trade legislation to “regulate the mass importation of goods” and minimize “market distortions” caused by imports of cheaper, subsidized products from abroad, HKTDC said.
Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique recently announced restrictions on poultry imports from South Africa due to an avian influenza outbreak in that country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report released May 20. The outbreaks, which occurred in April and May, affected commercial chicken-layer farms in South Africa’s Gauteng Province, North West Province and Western Cape. Botswana and Mozambique still allow exports of poultry and poultry raw products from “registered compartments” within South Africa that comply with certain monthly surveillance requirements. USDA said Lesotho and Hong Kong also have announced some restrictions on poultry imports from South Africa’s Gauteng Province.
Morocco recently placed tariffs on common and durum wheat imports to protect local producers from foreign competition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported May 20. Morocco placed a 135% duty on common wheat on May 15, and will impose a 170% duty on durum wheat starting June 1, USDA said. Both types of wheat were previously not subject to duties.
Dubai Customs recently issued guidance related to electronic clearances for imported consumer goods worth less than about $2,700, KPMG reported May 18. The guidance, which took effect May 16, provides information on the electronic clearance platform available for those imports. The platform will allow importers to benefit from automatic processing of customs declarations, certain exemptions from customs duties and fees, a 60-day window to amend or cancel a declaration and more. The guidance applies to both domestic United Arab Emirates companies and those operating in free zones, KPMG said.
The United Arab Emirates recently issued policy guidelines to help facilitate the movement of goods within Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) member countries, KPMG said in a May 17 post. The guidelines, effective June 1, will help implement an international road transport program that aims to lessen certain administrative and financial burdens on GCC-based companies, including a decrease in customs inspections, KPMG said. Certain goods transported under the program won’t face duties until there is “proof of the goods exiting the country,” the firm said, and certain transport vehicles won’t be subject to customs inspections at all entry and exit points. But KPMG added that the goods and vehicles must meet certain requirements and will still be subject to the country’s national “restriction controls.”
Saudi Arabia plans to merge its taxation and customs authorities into one agency, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, to help facilitate trade. Combining the General Authority for Zakat and Income and the General Authority for Customs will help boost customs security and facilitate tax and customs procedures by “raising the level of integration of procedures between the two sides,” a May 5 notice said, according to an unofficial translation. Saudi Arabia also said the move will create a “unified platform” that will save traders time and money, which is “in line with the most prominent modern international practices.”
Iran is allowing banks and other licensed parties to use cryptocurrencies to pay for imports in a bid to avoid international financial controls and global sanctions, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported May 11. The country previously allowed only its central bank to pay for imports by using cryptocurrencies, but that authorization was recently extended to “selected financial institutions,” the report said. Iran is also drafting a bill to provide “regulatory clarity” on crypto-related activities.
Oman plans to exempt the supply and transport of certain goods and services in its free zones from value-added taxes, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported May 7. Although Oman hasn’t yet detailed how it will administer the exemptions, they will follow certain eligibility rules and will be available only for operators licensed or registered to operate in the country’s special zones. The country also said exemptions will not apply to certain restaurants, hotel, food and beverage, entertainment and educational services.