Mauritania raises customs duties by 171%, affecting Moroccan truckers

Mauritania has increased customs duties by 171% at the El Guerguerat border crossing, linking Morocco with its southern neighbor and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. 

This surge in taxes has disrupted the flow of trucks carrying goods between Morocco and Mauritania, affecting Moroccan fruit and vegetable transporters headed to the Nuakchot market.

The customs clearance cost for a large truck’s cargo has surged from 1,600 euros to over 4,600 euros. 

This unexpected increase has left many truckers stranded at the border, unable to proceed due to unpaid taxes, Hespress AR reported.ga

Those who pay the tax pass quickly, while others are blocked from crossing the El Guerguerat border.

Truckers transporting produce are compelled to pass on the significant increase to wholesalers, who, in turn, do the same with intermediaries, leading to higher prices for the end consumer.

Resellers have no choice but to transfer these new taxes to retail prices. Ultimately, consumers bear the burden of these additional costs. 

The Mauritanian Consumer Protection Forum, a non-governmental organization, strongly criticized the decision made by Mauritania’s Ministry of Finance earlier in 2024 to increase customs duties on imported vegetables from Morocco.

In a press statement, the forum said that the decision to raise tariffs on vegetables would harm citizens by causing an increase in the prices of essential food items. This, according to the statement, will add to the “consumer’s hardship.”

The statement warned of the significant negative impact that the decision could have, as Mauritanian consumers are already burdened by ongoing price hikes, monopolies, and high costs.

The forum called on the Mauritanian authorities to swiftly take urgent measures to alleviate this situation, preserving consumer rights and mitigating the continuous price increases without justification.

Since January 2, 2024, the Customs Border Office in Nouadhibou, northern Mauritania, has been implementing the new customs clearance tariff on vegetables imported from Morocco.

The increase in customs duties is limited to vegetables, excluding fruits and other goods not covered by the new decision. The customs clearance tariff for fruits and other non-vegetable goods will remain unchanged.

This increase in customs duties aligns with the government’s policy to encourage domestic vegetable production and urge citizens to cultivate them, aiming for the country to achieve self-sufficiency in vegetables.