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.

The Kenya Ports Authority again extended the free storage period for containers at its ports to aid the shipping industry as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The free storage period -- which was introduced in May 2020, renewed in December (see 2012290007) and expired in March -- was again renewed in April for three months, the port authority said in a notice. The notice contains information on the free period days for domestic import and export containers and transit import and export containers. The authority said it may consider more renewals.

Pakistan will waive duties on cotton yarn imports until June 30 to help the country’s cotton industry, which has been damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said May 6. The move is aimed at ensuring a “smooth supply” of cotton to the industry to reduce the gap between local production and demand, HKTDC said. The duty elimination comes as Pakistan continues to ban cotton imports from India over a border dispute.

Egyptian customs authorities will use CargoX, a new online document transfer platform, to provide shipping lines and port operators with “real-time information” on incoming goods, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported May 3. Shippers will also be required to submit certain information in the country’s Advance Cargo Information (ACI) System beginning July 1, including “key data” about imports, a list of the cargo and more. HKTDC said Egypt is “one of the first in the world” to establish a digital ACI system using blockchain technology, which has been in a pilot phase since April 1.

South Africa recently announced plans to review its tariff structure for poultry as part of a broader plan to reduce imports and support its local poultry industry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported April 22. In its review, South Africa will consider introducing “specific” rather than ad valorem duties, simplifying its tariff structure by reducing the number of tariff lines and imposing specific anti-dumping measures. Although the South African government and industry have “rallied” behind the plan, not all are convinced the strategy will solve the “structural” issues within the country’s poultry sector, USDA said. Despite recent measures to raise import duties on poultry products and impose antidumping duties on several trading partners, USDA said South African poultry producers “haven’t been able to produce enough poultry that will be sufficient to supplement imports and meet all the domestic demand.”

Dubai is exempting certain service fees for customs deposit refund claims submitted by companies in free zones, KPMG said in an April 27 post. Dubai Customs issued a guidance, that went into effect April 1, exempting free zone companies from paying service fees for “claims of the customs deposit refund for goods valued at less” than about $815 for certain declarations, KPMG said. Those declarations include “free zone transit-out declarations” and “transit between Dubai-based free zones declaration.” Service fees continue to apply to goods valued at more than $815.

Truck waiting times at a major trade transport route connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are expected to be reduced by 90% due to a new digital system, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported April 13. The King Fahd Causeway will roll out its new truck management system in May, which will allow trucks to book appointments with customs authorities in both countries to help exports and imports flow better. The new system is part of a broader set of Bahrain measures to expand trade after the COVID-19 pandemic, the report said, including a second bridge linking it to Saudi Arabia and automated data collection for its customs authority.