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Lebanese wary of rise of customs duties amid economic crisis

The cash-strapped Lebanese government has approved a draft budget law for 2022 that hikes the customs dollar and imposes new duties, as the country battles a severe economic crisis.
Lebanese anti-government protesters take part in a candlelight vigil outside the headquarters of Lebanon Electricity company in Beirut on Nov. 11, 2019.

BEIRUT — The Lebanese government approved on Feb. 10 the draft budget law for the year 2022, with plans to hike customs duties and impose new taxes. The budget will be discussed in parliament on Feb. 21 for ratification. This comes as the Lebanese people have battled their worst economic crisis for nearly two years now.

The recent talk about amending the exchange rate of customs transactions for imports and the imposition of new customs duties stirred great concern among Lebanese. The measure will further up the prices of goods and services since Lebanon relies mostly on imports for all of its needs.

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