Amman, Sept. 7 (Petra) — The Cabinet’s decision to extend for an
additional six months exemptions from customs duties and taxes
resulting from increases in sea freight charges, and to apply the
exemptions to all goods imported by sea, would help support supply
chains and facilitate the movement of goods, Head of the Association
of Owners of Clearance and Transport Companies Daifallah Abu Aqoula
said.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Abu Aqoula said the
decision would help maintain the flow of goods and prevent global
price increases from being reflected in consumer prices. It would
also help reduce the impact of higher shipping and transport costs on
importers and economic sectors, particularly amid the challenges
facing global trade due to regional and international circumstances.
He said continuing the exemptions would help contain increases in
import costs.

On Sunday, the Cabinet approved extending its previous decision to
exempt goods from customs duties and taxes resulting from increases
in sea freight charges, while including all goods imported by sea
under the exemptions for an additional six months. The exemptions
include general and special sales taxes and aim to prevent higher
commodity prices for consumers as a result of the regional situation.

Abu Aqoula said extending the exemptions to all goods imported by
sea, including general and special sales taxes, would ease the
additional burden resulting from higher sea freight charges and limit
the impact of these increases on prices in the local market.

He noted that stable shipping costs, particularly sea freight costs,
are an important factor in maintaining the flow of goods, raw
materials and basic needs into the Kingdom and ensuring the
regularity of import and supply operations, benefiting various
economic sectors.

He said significant increases in shipping costs affect the final cost
of goods. Government measures aimed at reducing these costs help
limit the impact of global and regional price increases on consumers
and support the competitiveness of the commercial and industrial
sectors.

Abu Aqoula stressed the importance of continuing to monitor global
developments in shipping and transport costs and their impact on
trade costs, while strengthening cooperation between the government
and private sector to take appropriate measures to ensure the smooth
movement of goods and the continuity of supply chains.

He welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to extend the exemptions, saying
it reflects the government’s efforts to limit the effects of higher
shipping costs on the national economy and consumers, maintain market
stability, and ensure the availability of goods, particularly amid
the current regional circumstances.

//Petra//WH