Article-1 Committee insistent on 10% import tariff endorsement

Committee still insist on endorsement by the government of up to10% tariff on imported mobile phone handsets.
Mohammad Marzban-Rad, in conversation with MOBNA, said the endorsement has been delayed because of opposition from the Ministry of Industries & Mines on grounds of domestic manufacture protection.
Even though the tariff was raised from 4% to 60% two years ago in a bid to protect domestic production so that 3 approved domestic manufacturers could produce 6m handsets annually, the plan did not materialize and instead gave way to massive smuggling, which led prospective customers to purchasing low-quality and without guarantee handsets.
The chaotic market prompted Article-1 Committee, which consists of members from Trade, Industry & Mines and Economic Affairs ministries and the Mobile Handset union, to convene last winter and lower the tariff from 60% to 25%.
However, as smuggling continued, the Committee proposed a 4% tariff to the Cabinet of Ministers which was duly rejected.
The Committee is now in favor of a 10% import tariff which the Cabinet is yet to endorse.

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