Yemen gov’t tightens import controls as Houthis reportedly demand $51 billion from Saudi Arabia
New measures require proof of full payment of customs duties and taxes before international transfers can proceed, raising concerns over added costs for importers in impoverished Yemen.
The Yemeni government has announced plans to tighten controls on imports through Houthi-controlled ports, according to a statement from the National Committee for Regulating and Financing Imports (NCRFI). This decision, shared by the Aden Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mandates that customs duties, taxes, and other government revenues be paid in advance for goods destined for Houthi-controlled ports.
The new regulations tie the processing of foreign-exchange transactions and international transfers to proof of full payment for applicable charges, potentially imposing an additional financial burden on businesses importing supplies into the impoverished nation. Wafiq Saleh, an economic journalist, cited the Yemen Youth TV Channel, stating that the limited imports allowed to reach the besieged city of Taiz are insufficient to meet residents' needs and that the country is sliding into a war-driven economy with rising prices for basic goods.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
