New custom duties were issued by Presidential Decree No. 419/2018 which increased import tariffs for over 300 goods in a variety of categories. The amendments published in the official gazette on September 9, 2018, came into effect on 12 September 2018. The new tariff has considered applying modifications and additions made to the international HS in more than 275 new items to conform with international applicable systems and to facilitate trade.
Modifications in custom fees included total custom exemptions on all medications related to infectious, chronic, psychiatric, and neurological diseases. A new tariff item has also been introduced covering sterilized and polymer-ethylene manufactured surgery bags. Moreover, agricultural and nutritional products have received a lion share of facilities offered by the new custom tariff; namely, by sticking to the international coordination system in fish products, fishery goods, fruits (tangerine, in particular) and other plentiful goods in a way that reflects FAO standards for food safety, and without prejudice to discounted custom tariff category or custom exemptions applied on them.
Regarding automotive products, custom fees have been reduced for 1600 CC engine power vehicles operating both with oil and electric engines from 40% down to 30%, and for higher engine power ones from 135% down to 100%. Fee exemptions are applied only to electrically operated vehicles, whereas discounts in tariff category for natural gas operated vehicles have increased from 25% to 35%.
Custom fees have been also decreased on other miscellaneous products: a decrease from 60% down to 40% on personal care and hygiene products (e.g. toothpaste, shaving creams, medical soaps) and sportswear; from 40% to 20% on protective uniforms made of cotton and synthetic fibers; and from 30% down to 20% on baby strollers.
Moreover, aiming to protect national industries, slight discounts are made within the new tariff on fees applied on pens; namely, a fee decrease by 50% down from 60% is made on plastic-manufactured pens, and by 40% from 60% on ink-filled pens and pencils.
A unified tariff of 40% has been applied on TV screens and monitors. Fees have also been decreased on Egyptian imports from stained-glass windows and glass panels used in manufacturing process from 50% down to 20%. New 10% discounted tariff categories have been introduced for tires of Tuk tuk (3 wheels vehicles) and fireproof lockers and drawer units, and a tariff decrease is made on empty cabins used in electrical appliances and communication devices, to reach 5%.
In addition, a new totally exempted tariff category has been introduced for silkworm eggs, and for LED bulbs and their components of light emitting diodes, while a fee of 5% is made on their plastic and glass components. For more tariff reform, fee increases are made on plastic-made shower sprayers to reach 60% up from 40%, and Zinc made ones to 40% from 30%.
New items related to safety against hazardous substances have been introduced in the new custom tariff, instead of falling under chemical items category, without making any change in their tariffs given their importance in chemical industry. The aim of the said procedure is to specify an item for each chemical substance (e.g., chlorides and halides oxides, antioxidants) to tighten control over their trading. New international items have also been added for medications such as vaccines, blood components, immune products, antibiotics in a way to better control circulation of narcotic drugs.