Sector leaders call for levying transit tax on Syrian agricultural products

AMMAN — A number of agricultural associations, unions and private sector institutions have recently called on the government to impose a transit tax on Syrian agricultural products passing through the Kingdom.

The institutions in question cited Syria’s imposition of a similar tax on Jordanian agricultural products, which amounts to $1,400-$2,000 per shipment.

The amount is determined in accordance with the distance shipments travel within Syrian territory, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

They requested that the government prioritise Jordanian exports by not transferring imports to the Jaber border crossing at the expense of local products.

The statement was signed by the Agricultural Engineers Association, the Jordan Valley Farmers Union, the Jordan Veterinarians Association and the Merchant’s Union of Vegetables and Fruits Exporters.

Signatories also included the Jordan Dates Association, the Jordan Society for Organic Farming, the Jordan Olive Products Export Association and the Agricultural Materials Traders and Producers Association.

President of the Jordan Chamber of Industry Fathi Jaghbir told Petra in April that he also attributed a fall in industrial exports to Syria to obstacles and procedures imposed by Syrian authorities.

Jaghbir called on the government to adopt a principle of reciprocity with Damascus, claiming the country was imposing “illogical” conditions and constraints that contradicted the Kingdom’s method of dealing with Syrian products.

President of the Jordan Exporters and Producers Society for Fruits and Vegetables Zuhair Jweihan told The Jordan Times earlier this year that the sector was facing “obstacles” in trying to export to Syria, adding that the hurdles and the conditions were negatively affecting Jordanian farmers and exporters.

In April 2015, Jordan closed the Jaber border crossing with Syria for security reasons. Passenger and cargo traffic was halted as a result of the escalating violence in the Syrian town of Nasib, just across the border, some 80km north of Amman. 

The Jaber crossing was reopened for passenger and cargo movement under certain conditions on October 15, 2018.