Backlash at Mauritania’s customs duty hike on Moroccan goods

Mauritania has hiked customs duty on goods entering the country from the Guerguarat border crossing with Morocco, triggering the wrath of local consumers who see the move as a hit to Mauritanians purchasing power.

Most goods transiting through El Guerguarata to Mauritania and the wider West African regions are fresh produce.

The hike meant that a truck loaded with vegetables or fruits will have to pay 4600 euros instead of 1600 euros in customs duty, an increase that would affect retail prices for the end consumer.

The Mauritanian consumer protection forum denounced the increase which it said would further aggravate the suffering of Mauritanians and their access to vegetables.

Mauritania relies on Morocco for most of its imports of fresh produce as the country is also Morocco’s only land route to other African markets.

The customs decision led many truckers to make a u-turn back to sell their produce in local Moroccan markets, leaving Mauritania in serious shortage.