KABUL — The Taliban’s Finance Ministry on Sunday announced a significant increase in customs tariffs on several imported goods, a move it says is aimed at supporting domestic production and promoting local trade.
According to a statement released by the ministry, the decision was made during a meeting of the Tariff Committee that included Taliban representatives from the ministries of agriculture, commerce, and economy, as well as the office of Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister for economic affairs.
The new tariffs affect four categories of goods, with some rates nearly doubling. Import duties on rebar have increased from 16 percent to 30 percent. Natural cotton will now face a 20 percent tariff, up from 3.5 percent. Tariffs on baby diapers and sanitary pads were raised from 10 percent to 20 percent.
The duty on pressure-based paint remains unchanged at 16 percent.
In addition, footwear imports will also be subject to higher rates. Tariffs on leather shoes have increased from 10 percent to 20 percent, while duties on plastic footwear have risen from 20 percent to 30 percent.
Taliban said the changes are intended to protect Afghanistan’s nascent industries from foreign competition and reduce reliance on imports. However, the increases come amid growing frustration among national traders, some of whom have criticized the Taliban’s tax and customs policies as burdensome and unpredictable.
