Saudi Arabia is raising a raft of customs fees in another policy revamp that could hurt consumer spending at a time when it’s already down.
The new levies, set to come into effect June 10, will be applied to a 74-page list of imported products, from dairy, meat and vegetables to rugs, police cars and building materials, according to a document released by the customs authority.
Fee increases differ for each item, ranging from half a percentage point for certain types of acid to 15 percentage points for some imported vegetables and herbs. Some of the items had been exempt from customs fees before.
The change could bring in much-needed non-oil revenue for the world’s largest crude exporter, and will likely give a boost to local agriculture and manufacturing. But it will also hit consumers’ wallets in a time of crisis. The government already plans to triple its value-added tax to 15% in July, which will further increase prices during a period when many Saudis are facing job loss or salary cuts.
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