The implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) 2015-2019 and its Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) and 2015 Fiscal Policy Measures are causing confusion and breeding imminent congestion at the Lagos ports as importers and clearing agents fear cost uncertainties.

A clearing agent at Apapa Port, Mr Banji Adeloye, told LEADERSHIP yesterday that agents were not willing to clear goods as the technicalities and cost details of the new CET remained unclear.

He also feared that importers might have to pay more for clearing their consignments following the implementation of the CET.

“We are confused and what we are doing for now is to watch and see how the new tariff regime turns up. Already we can see that some of the duties that the customs told us earlier have been removed are actually hidden under certain other descriptions and they appear higher,” Adeloye said.

Industry experts fear that the ECOWAS tariff may see importers paying between 25 and 40 per cent higher than existing tariff rates

“Obviously, the fear of paying more for clearing cargoes is deterring importers from clearing their goods. Also, there is a kind of slow implementation of the scheme. The implication of all this is a congested port,” a shipping expert, Mr Sylvester Nduba, said.

According to Adeloye, some levies have been removed but reintroduced as Import Adjustment Tax (IAT), which attracts 50 per cent of the value of import.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the tax came up after the collapse of the five per cent VAT, 0.5 per cent ETLS and seven per cent port levy.

The approval for the implementation of the new tariff was conveyed in a statement signed by the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala last week.

The Nigeria Customs Service had said all imports arriving into the country beginning from April 11, shall be subjected to the rates contained in the CET 2015- 2019 and 2015 Fiscal Measures without recourse to the rates applicable before the coming into effect of the ECOWAS CET 2015 – 2019.

A statement issued by the service’s spokesman, deputy controller of Customs, Mr Wale Adeniyi, to announce the introduction of the trade regime also said that the approved Supplementary Protection Measures /Fiscal Policy Measures comprised an Import Adjustment Tax list which involves additional taxes on 177 tariff lines of the ECOWAS CET.

The ECOWAS CET also covers a list of goods whose import duty rates have been reviewed to encourage more development in strategic sectors of the economy and an Import Prohibition List (Trade), applicable only to certain goods originating from non-ECOWAS countries.