The United Arab Emirates updated its tariff schedule after adopting amendments made to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Unified Customs Tariff that passed on Oct. 25, 2020. In a Jan. 21 customs notice, Dubai Customs said the amendments were implemented effective Jan. 1. The UAE modified the description column of two tariff codes, created four new tariff headings and made 65 changes to existing tariff subheadings, KPMG said Feb. 8. The affected commodities are tobacco-related products; electronic products; cocoa powder and other instant preparation drinks with added sugar or sweetener; water, milk and cocoa beverages with added sugar or sweetener; and miscellaneous chemical products.

Ethiopia launched an online trade registration and licensing system to better help foreign businesses apply for licensing services, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Feb. 8. The system, launched Jan. 30, is expected to speed up registration and trade certification processes and boost Ethiopia’s trade competitiveness, the report said. Foreign companies need to register at etrade.gov.et to request, renew, amend, replace and cancel licenses, the HKTDC said.

Nigeria recently issued guidance for exporters shipping to countries within the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council reported Jan. 28. It details various export requirements, including those regarding permits, licenses, certificates and other documents necessary within the AfCFTA, whose members began trading Jan. 1. Exporters and agents need to apply to the Nigeria Customs Service for an AfCFTA certificate of origin once the required fees are paid. Along with a bill of entry and a certificate of origin for shipments, exporters also are required to include a bill of lading, a certificate of analysis, a packing list and a commercial invoice, the HKTDC said.

The United Arab Emirates recently reinstated its requirement to submit customs declarations after it waived the requirement last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Jan. 29 KPMG post. The requirement was officially reinstated Jan. 31, KPMG said, and businesses will have to submit customs documents to Dubai Customs “within 14 days of processing of the customs declaration on the Mirsal2 portal.”

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.