A source within the customs department at the Semalka border crossing with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has reported that a new customs system will be implemented starting Sunday, April 12. This move is expected to trigger extensive changes in trade movement and prices across Rojava (Northeast Syria).
The source explained to Arta Radio that the new system relies on a specific application from the Syrian Interim Government called “Monsiq” (Coordinator). It will officially enter service on the scheduled date, replacing the application currently used by the Autonomous Administration.
Significant Fee Increases
The source detailed that the new application includes substantial increases in customs duties, with fees for some materials reaching ten times their previous rates per ton:
Rice: Increasing from approximately $13 to $27 per ton.
Vegetable Oil: Jumping from $20 to approximately $250 per ton.
Flour: Rising from $11 to $53 per ton.
Sugar: Rising from $13 to $53 per ton.
The source added that approximately 3,000 different items will be subject to new tariffs under the upcoming system, indicating a comprehensive overhaul of the customs fee structure.
Impact on Imports and Local Markets
Furthermore, the source noted that the customs cost for a full truckload of vegetables and fruits, previously estimated at around $200, will soar to thousands of dollars under the new system. This serves as a clear indicator of the significant expected rise in import costs and its potential repercussions on local markets.
In a related context, wholesale prices for imported air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines have already risen by $25 to $50. Kawa Nebo, a household electrical appliance vendor, confirmed these increases to Arta Radio while explaining the underlying causes.
The implementation of this system follows an agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim authority led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. This agreement came in the wake of violent battles that resulted in the SDF losing vast areas of control east of the Euphrates. Consequently, the SDF accepted terms including the handover of border crossings, specifically the Semalka crossing, which links Western Kurdistan (Syria) to the Federal Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
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