Director of the General Customs Administration, Khaled Al-Burad, confirmed that Decree No. 188 of 2026, concerning the amendment of certain provisions of the customs tariff, aims to support national production, encourage investment, and reduce the costs of imports and production. This enhances the competitiveness of local products and contributes to improving the industrial production environment in Syria.
Al-Burad explained, in an interview with Al-Ikhbariya Al-Suriya today, Tuesday, that the amendments included provisions related to industrial machinery and equipment, production supplies, renewable energy installations, and some medical equipment, food, metallic, and textile materials. Additionally, several tariff items were reclassified, categorized, amended, some deleted, and others merged.
He indicated that the amendments allow for the reduction of fees on production supplies, machinery, and equipment, thereby lowering manufacturing costs. At the same time, customs protection is provided for national products when they are available in appropriate quantities and quality, enhancing their ability to compete against imported products.
Al-Burad pointed out that the impact of tariff reductions will not necessarily reflect directly and immediately on commodity prices in the markets, as a fundamental part of the amendments targets production inputs. This requires time for results to appear through increased production, improvement of the industrial sector, and the creation of job opportunities.
He noted that the amendments included renewable energy installations, such as wind turbines, and some medical equipment, such as X-ray machines and serum bags, alongside industrial equipment and machinery like transformers and generators.
Al-Burad stressed the importance of integrating roles between the Customs Administration and relevant authorities, particularly the Ministries of Economy and Industry and consumer protection entities, to ensure the precise implementation of the customs tariff and monitor the impact of amendments on the markets.
Al-Burad clarified that the year 2026 witnessed legislative activity in the field of customs work, marked by the issuance of Decrees No. 109, 110, and 117, leading up to Decree No. 188. He explained that Article 27 of Decree No. 109 stipulated the establishment of a Customs Tariff Council tasked with continuously reviewing the tariff based on market needs, proposals from representative bodies, and requests from chambers of commerce, industry, and economic entities.
President Ahmed Al-Sharaa issued Decree No. (188) of 2026 yesterday, Monday, amending certain provisions of the Harmonized Customs Tariff Schedule adopted by Decree No. (110) of 2026, regarding classification, coding, fee rates, and implementation conditions.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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