President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued Decree No. (188) of 2026 yesterday, Monday, amending certain provisions of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule approved by Decree No. (110) of 2026, regarding classification, coding, tariff rates, and implementation conditions. This measure aims to support national production and reduce industrial costs by lowering duties on raw materials and equipment, thereby enhancing investment and employment opportunities and supporting the competitiveness of Syrian products.
Reducing production costs
Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Damascus University, Ali Kanaan, clarified in a statement to SANA correspondent today, Tuesday, that the decree includes customs reductions on raw materials used in Syrian industries and others designated for local consumption. He pointed out that these amendments contribute to reducing production costs and improving the competitiveness of national products in local and international markets.
Supporting specific sectors
Kanaan added that reducing customs duties on fabrics from 53% to 25% supports the garment industry and expands job opportunities in the textile sector. The amendments also covered medical tools and equipment, with their duties decreasing from 300% to 100%, while duties on electrical cables dropped from 1000% to 100%, and water pumps from 40% to 20%.
Enhancing economic competitiveness
He noted that these measures help mitigate inflationary pressures resulting from rising production input costs, stressing the importance of complementing them with supportive policies, including securing electricity at reasonable prices and providing loans to industrialists. He affirmed that integrating tariff reductions with lower energy and financing costs enhances the competitiveness of Syrian industry and encourages investment and the expansion of Syrian products' presence in Arab and international markets.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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