Saudi Arabia recently extended the shelf life for U.S. chilled beef, which is expected to save U.S. exporters money and give Saudi importers “flexibility” to buy larger quantities of U.S. beef, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported March 26. Saudi increased the shelf life from 70 to 120 days for meat “vacuum-packed under a modified atmosphere,” which could save U.S. exporters at least $4 per kilogram and represents a “welcome sign” for many Saudi beef importers, USDA said.
The U.S. renewed the national emergency authorizing sanctions against South Sudan, the White House said March 29. The White House said South Sudan continues to be “marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability” of the country and surrounding region. The emergency was extended for one year beyond April 3.
Kenya plans to launch a new digital customs system in June, which will allow customs authorities to receive declarations before imports arrive and make operations at the Port of Mombasa more efficient, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported March 24. The new system is also expected to “significantly” reduce clearance times through automated evaluations of cargo.
Jordan increased customs duty exemptions for online purchases, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported March 15. Jordan will provide duty exemptions for goods worth up to about $280, double the previous limit, the report said. The exemptions apply to all imports purchased “through electronic means” and intended for “personal use.” Tobacco and alcohol products are excluded. Jordan said it will impose a fixed 10% fee on the imports that qualify, but they won’t be subject to any “other taxes or fees,” HKTDC said. The measure is meant to support the country’s logistics sector and ease the customs clearance process, the report said, but certain domestic garment and jewelry producers said the exemptions could disadvantage the “conventional trade sector.”
South Africa published guidance on its rebate provision for imported textiles and yarns, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported March 16. The country is offering 100% duty rebates on certain imported textile yarns and fabrics in a bid to bolster its garment manufacturing sector, the report said. The rebates will apply to imports from all member states of the Southern African Customs Union, HKTDC said. South Africa will require proof that the finished products will be sent to and sold by retailers in SACU member states.
Following a review of the European Union's sanctions regime on nine individuals in Egypt, the European Council removed their names from its sanctions list, the EC announced on March 12. The individuals originally were added to the sanctions' regime for their roles in the misappropriation of Egyptian state funds, the EC said. Having been found that their actions warranted their placement on the sanctions list by the council in 2011, the individuals were subject to an asset freeze and forbidden from doing business with EU nationals and legal entities. Following the most recent review, the EC determined the sanctions regime on these nine individuals had served its purpose.
Morocco recently amended its phytosanitary inspection procedures for certain imported goods, including imported plants, plant products and items with wood packaging, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported March 9. The report highlights which ports are accepting the imports, which exemptions apply and what information import certificates must include.
Saudi Arabia recently issued guidelines for paying value-added taxes for e-commerce goods, KPMG said in a March 8 post. The guidelines outline which “online enterprises” must register to pay VAT and how to file VAT returns. But KPMG said it is “not clear” whether both “resident and non-resident taxpayers” must comply with the VAT guidance.
The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority recently began imposing a new tariff regime that will raise duties by an average of about 16% on 20-foot containers and by about 17% for 40-foot containers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported March 8. The new regime, which targets only shipping lines, has been met with opposition by local trade associations, which said shipping lines are passing on the new charges to their clients, the report said. Several trade associations are advising local traders to ignore the increased fees, which in some cases have raised domestic charges by 70% to 110%.
Shipping company CMA CGM recently announced a port congestion surcharge on inbound and outbound cargo from Kenya, threatening to turn the port of Mombasa into a “logistical nightmare,” The Standardreported Feb. 26. The company will levy the fee when certain ships are delayed at the port, the Kenyan newspaper said, and could impose total charges of $20,000 to $45,000, depending on the ship's size. At least one local industry group has protested the charge and hopes CMA CGM will reverse its decision, the report said, although industry fears other shipping lines may impose similar charges. CMA CGM introduced the charge to “recover money it had lost due” to the congestion at the port, the report said. The company didn’t comment.