MPs Back 10% Tariff on US Imports
The proposal was raised as a matter of urgency by Second Deputy Speaker Ahmed Qarata, backed by four others, and cleared during Tuesday's parliamentary session. It draws on a clause in the Bahrain–US Free Trade Agreement which allows reciprocal treatment.
'This proposal seeks to impose a 10 per cent customs duty on imports from the United States, in line with the principle of reciprocity,' said Mr Qarata during the debate.
He told MPs the idea came on the heels of a recent move by the US administration to apply new tariffs to products from several countries, with Bahrain among them. A 10 per cent charge was placed on certain Bahraini exports.
'In response, and applying the same rate, we are putting forward this urgent proposal to tax American imports accordingly,' he said.
Mr Qarata added that the tariff could bring in extra income for the public purse, with the funds channelled into other areas of government spending.
The matter will now be passed to ministers for review.
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