Authorities hesitant in declaring 10 percent mobile import tariff

His comments are in response to the announcement a few days ago by a commerce ministry official that the 10 percent mobile import tariff would be implemented in the coming days.
The reason for this is attributed to objections voiced by domestic mobile set manufacturers and some active market individuals.
“The news that the tariff will be announced shortly is only a rumor,” Emad Semiconductors’ managing director, Hamidreza Monji, told Mobna news agency.
He added that the commission set up by the Ministry of Industries and Mines on the issue is strongly against the rise in tariff.
Mohammad Rad-Nia an active market agent believes, however, that the new tariff would reduce smuggling in the long run.
In a situation where, according to unofficial figures, 90 percent of sets on the market have been imported illegally and the 10 percent tariff could somehow limit the practice, such hesitation by authorities has only caused more chaos in the market and higher profit to the smugglers.

132/16