Algeria plans to end goods import ban, impose more customs duties

ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria plans to lift a ban on imports for hundreds of goods and replace it with higher customs duties, Trade Minister Said Djellab said on Monday, the latest attempt to generate more tax revenue and ease pressure on state finances.

The North African country at the start of this year banned the import of 851 products including cell phones, household appliances and food products with the aim of reducing spending after a fall in energy earnings.

The ban replaced a license system the government imposed in 2016 in a failed attempt to ease the country’s imports bill.

“We consider imposing additional customs duties for finished goods. This is part of our search for (a) more efficient instrument,” Djellab told a conference. “This plan will be discussed by the government in June,” he said, without saying when the ban on imports will be lifted.

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