South Africa recently updated its list of banned and restricted goods for import and export, according to a Feb. 2 report from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The list, issued last month, includes certain food products, weaponry, chemicals, auto parts and fabrics. Each item is subject to different levels of trade restrictions and may require permits from the government.
Morocco Tanger Med 2 officially opened its third container terminal, adding to the country’s Port of Tanger Med, the largest capacity port in the Mediterranean, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 22. The new $215 million terminal can service 1.5 million “20-foot equivalent” unit containers annually, the HKTDC said. Morocco is expected to gradually increase the terminal’s capacity until it becomes fully operational by June, HKTDC said.
Pakistan recently issued a directive to require online payments for customs duties that exceed about $6,200, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 27. Importers must make the payment through one of Pakistan’s bank‑sanctioned payment systems via e‑payments and “any other electronic payment method” approved by the country’s state bank. HKTDC said the move is aimed at further digitizing customs payments to meet the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental organization created to combat money laundering.
Qatar is expected to announce a broad 5% value-added tax rate on sales in goods this year, KPMG said Jan. 26. All people and entities doing business in Qatar will need to register for VAT purposes. The country is expected to soon release a set of rules and regulations to describe how the VAT will be applied, KPMG said in a separate January report.
Turkey recently updated its import tariffs for certain nuts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Jan. 22. The country raised duties on in-shell and shelled walnuts to 15% for all origins, excluding countries with which Turkey has a free trade deal. FAS also said Turkey imposes an additional 10% duty on tree nuts imported from the U.S. in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Turkish steel.
Ghana recently postponed a planned 20% increase in registration fees and customs charges for certain imported goods and services, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 21. Fee increases that were scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 were delayed for at least three months amid criticism from importers, shippers and freight forwarders that the increased charges would lead to higher prices and “damage to the economy,” the report said. The fees -- which would affect imports including office equipment, plastic goods, auto parts, telecommunication equipment, pharmaceutical products and furniture -- originally were scheduled to take effect last year but were pushed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HKTDC said. Ghana will reassess the situation and the fees at the end of this year’s first quarter.
Nigeria recently launched a “port operations process manual” to boost port efficiency and tackle corruption, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Dec. 28. The manual is aimed at addressing “corruption risk assessment” at Nigerian ports and to increase “accountability.” Success will depend on whether industry stakeholders “take the new manual on board and assess its efficiency, so that the document can subsequently be revised when issues and developments arise,” HKTDC said.
The Kenya Ports Authority recently extended the free storage period for containers at its ports, to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the shipping industry, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Dec. 24. The free storage period was introduced in May and scheduled to end in November before being renewed Dec. 14 to extend from Dec. 10 for “either three or six months, depending on location,” the HKTDC said. Kenya also increased the length of free storage time, which varies by port, many for 14 days rather than nine.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturers recently issued new standards to counter illegal imports and make importing into Kenya more efficient, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Dec. 11. The standard operating procedures guide will serve as a “reference” for all Kenyan government bodies involved in “ensuring efficiency and accountability in the inspection, verification and clearance” of imports, and is relevant for freight consolidators, clearing agents, importers and trade groups.
The Egyptian Cabinet recently approved a draft bill that exempts importers from paying value-added taxes on shipping costs for certain “key commodities,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service reported Dec. 9. The bill is expected to remove taxes paid on freight costs for “grains, legumes, table salt and spices,” FAS said, ensuring a “sustainable supply of commodities to the Egyptian market without any disruptions.”