JD80 ‘alternative fuel tax’ to be levied on Syrian trucks — Customs Dept.

AMMAN — The Jordan Customs Department has announced that it will be charging Syrian trucks entering the Kingdom a JD80 fee as an “alternative fuel tax”.

In a statement published online, the Jordan Customs Department said that the Syrian side “did not abide by the memorandum of understanding signed on 29/10/2009, which states that the trucks of both sides are exempted from taxes”.

It added: “The Syrian side has since imposed an $80 fee on Jordanian trucks.”

The news came as a “relief” to Jordanian producers and exporters, President of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Association for Fruit and Vegetables Saadi Abu Hammad told The Jordan Times over the phone.

“This will certainly help relieve the transport crisis we have been having for the past couple of months because of the fact that truck drivers chose to deliver for Syrian producers and farmers who pay them more and whose deliveries are not subject to any taxation,” he added.

The decision, according to the Jordan Customs Department’s statement, was taken by the Prime Ministry on August 5 during one of their sessions.

A source in the customs department who preferred to remain anonymous said that the “trade relationship between Syria and Jordan has become competitive and payback-charged”.

 “This is not how everyone expected the opening of the Jaber border to go,” the source added.

The trade situation, particularly regarding produce, has been called “tense” several times this year by several associated heads on the Jordanian side, he noted.