The new customs duties are expected to substantially increase the price of imported goods [Getty]
A decision by Syria’s interim authorities to raise customs duties on imports coming in via the Turkish border has caused widespread discontent, raising fears of rising prices and recession in a country suffering from an economic crisis brought on by years of war.
Customs duties on goods brought in via Syria’s border crossings with Turkey will go up by between 300 and 500 percent starting on Saturday, according to Syrian businessmen working in the import-export trade who spoke to The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The crossings were controlled by Syrian rebels before the rebel offensive which toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad last December.
The businessmen described the increase in customs duties as “irrational and surprising”.
There are fears that they will have a significant and negative impact on the economy of northern Syria, which is already suffering greatly from the effects of war, with much of its population living in refugee camps.
Over 90 percent of Syria’s population live in poverty.
Saleh al-Idlibi, a trader who imports foodstuffs via the Turkish border, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “Raising customs duties has many disadvantages, particularly in the Syrian situation. The duties will increase the cost of raising some products and this in turn will raise prices for consumers on the free market. Traders avoid paying any extra costs from their profits and capital.”
He added that the customs duties would cause a recession in local markets at a time when Syrians lacked purchasing power. While he acknowledged that local producers could potentially benefit, he said these benefits would be offset by additional costs for them.
“These governmental decisions are hasty at the current time, and it is better to give concessions rather than impose restrictions,” he said.
Some sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Sunday that the interim authorities may remove the new customs duties due to rising prices in northern Syria and public anger.
Ammar Abdul Aziz, the customs secretary at the Bab al-Salama border crossing with Turkey said that the reason customs duties were increased was to bring in a unified system across the country, adding that there was a big difference in the duties imposed at crossings controlled by the Assad regime and those on the Turkish border at crossings controlled by rebels.
