Import duty to be increased for motorcycles, garments

Maldives Customs has announced that import duty will be increased on motorcycles and garments from tomorrow onwards, as the relevant amendments to the Import Export Act have not been passed.

Earlier, the parliament passed amendments to the Import Export Act to increase import duty on motorcycles from 100 to 150 percent, and to impose 15 percent on garments.

Later, the government decided to keep import duty on motorcycles at 100 percent, and remove import duty on garments. These changes have, however, not been passed by the parliament.

Senior Superintendent of Maldives Customs Ahmed Niyaz told Sun Online that despite the government’s decision to reduce import duty on these two items, the increased amounts, as per the existing law, will be imposed from tonight (midnight) onwards.

A senior official of Ministry of Economic Development said that the amendment bills to reduce import duty on motorcycles and garments are expected to be passed during the first week of April.