Fearing aid slash, PA to collect more customs duties
The Palestinian Ministry of Finance is increasing customs duties on a range of goods, allegedly to protect local production, in light of a budget deficit of $1.07 billion in 2017 and threats of a drop in international aid to the PA.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree Jan. 3 canceling tax exemptions in the Gaza Strip. The decree abolished Decree No. 18 of 2007, which exempted all citizens in the southern governorates from paying taxes and customs fees.
Louay Hanash, the director general of the Customs, Excise Duties and VAT division at the Finance Ministry, told Al-Monitor, “The Ministry of Finance sent to the Israel Customs Administration a list of goods indicating the new increased customs duties to be imposed as of Jan. 14 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.”
