FORTUNE+ VIDEO SPONSORED CONTENTS ADVERTORIALS FORTUNE AUDIO Fortune Careers New TRADE AFRICA New

Fortune Logo

Commission Revokes Duty-Free Privileges

Dec 6 , 2021

The Ethiopian Customs Commission has suspended duty privileges for travellers bringing personal items into the country.

A circular sent to the Addis Abeba Airport Customs Branch Office last week states that travellers have been abusing the duty-free privilege granted by a directive issued by the Ministry of Finance in 2018.

The directive exempts personal items such as professional cameras, external hard drives, laptops, kitchenware and TVs from tax.

“In addition to reducing government revenue, the privilege has been used to expand illegal and contraband trade,” reads the letter from the Commission.

The privilege has been suspended until amendments are made to the directive to address the issue.

However, travellers returning after spending a month or longer abroad will be allowed to bring in the items duty free.

Those who violate the new rules will face penalties in addition to import duties.

Put your comments here

N.B: A submit button will appear once you fill out all the required fields.



Related Posts

Share This Post
Linkedin
Google+


Most read

Latest News

Editor's pick

Commentaries

Growth Mirage Gives Way to Rising Poverty

The World Bank's latest brief on poverty and equity in, released this month, paints a...

Why Do Prospective Investors Look the Other Way While Bank Profits Surge?

In the domestic banking industry, earnings per share (EPS) have emerged as a potent b...

Fineline

Leaders of the National . . .

Leaders of the National Election Board are in a charm offensive mood, of a sort. Last week, they organised a rare tour for members of the me...

When the country’s most. . .

When the country's most senior diplomats and envoys return back to their posts after two-week debriefings, they leave behind a point or two...

Editorial

Official Narratives Preach Recovery. People Don't Feel It

Oct 18 , 2025

The political establishment, notably the ruling party and its top brass, has become p...

The Human Flight a Failure of Political Imagination, Not a Mere Economic Policy

Oct 11 , 2025

Ladislas Farago, a roving Associated Press (AP) correspondent, arrived in Ethiopia in...

Central Bank Loosens Credit Reins But Stops Short of Bold Overhaul

Oct 4 , 2025

Eyob Tekalegn (PhD) had been in the Governor's chair for only weeks when, on Septembe...

Exam Policy Fails the Test of Justice, Deepening Inequality, Disillusion

Sep 27 , 2025

Four years into an experiment with “shock therapy” in education, the national moo...

Gallery

Parliament Approves New Cabinet Members

Oct 6 , 2021

Parliament Approves New Cabinet, Incorporates Opposition Leaders Lawmakers have approved today the nominations of 22 ministers, including three opposition leaders. Two MPs have voted against, while 12 abstained...

2020 in Posterity

Jan 5 , 2021

TIGRAY VOTES DESPITE "NULL & VOID" THREAT

Sep 9 , 2020

IN-PICTURE: LAUREATE'S RECEPTION  

Dec 14 , 2019

PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) at a Gala Dinner Called for the Awarding of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize

May 6 , 2019

Faces, Voices of Addis Abeba

Apr 26 , 2019

Sunday With Eden

Luxury of the Ordinary

A few weeks ago, I stood before a shop window in Addis Abeba, staring at a child's outfit, simple trousers and a shirt priced at 7,000 Br. F...

The Power of Staying Unexplainable

There's a version of us that lives in our parents' minds, the child they raised, frozen in time no matter how old we get. Another version ex...

Life Matters

The Price of Paying Right

It's strange how something as ordinary as paying for groceries can spark a lesson in how fractured Ethiopia's digital payment system remains...

The Savior Complex, When Helping Hurts

I have this one friend who absolutely amazes me. She's fiercely loyal, always trying to help, and practic...