Algeria: 900 Products Barred From Import Starting From Early 2018

The Trade Minister, Mohamed Benmeradi, announced Tuesday, December 19th , a string of measures meant to regulate Algeria’s foreign trade and whose entry into force is scheduled for January 2018.

Some are contained, he said, in the 2018 Finance Law which was of late adopted by the houses of Parliament and other relevant measures would be included in an executive decree.

*End of import licences

The Minister of Trade has announced the end of the import licensing system except for vehicles. “There will be practically no more import licenses. We decided to give up this scheme altogether”, stated Mr. Mohamed Benmeradi.

The Minister also unveiled the list of nearly 900 products that will be suspended from import including among others, cheeses, chocolates, jams and furniture. 

“The products proposed for suspension accounted for almost $ 1.5 billion dollars in the first ten months of the year. We believe we can make gains on these products as many domestic producers are asking for the protection of their own production,” he underlined.

*Some imported products will be more expensive

Mr. Mohamed Benmeradi further said that his department has taken all the necessary steps to ensure that the foreign trade framework does not lead to shortages. 

“We have generally made sure that the measures to deter (economic operators) from excessive imports in order not to steep into shortages,” he said before warning that “certain imported products will certainly be more expensive “.

*Enlargement and hike of customs duties

The Minister of Trade also referred to the extension of the list of goods to the Domestic Consumer Tax (ICT), at the rate of 30%, for 10 families of finished products and the projected hike in customs duties, up to 60%, for 32 families of finished products.