Finance Ministry Cuts Duties, VAT on Essential Goods; Bans Export Until End of 2026

On February 5, 2026, the Minister of Finance reclassified certain intermediate and consumer goods as essential goods.
The measure is effective immediately and lasts until December 31, 2026.
Reduced customs duty of 5% and either VAT exemption or a reduced 5% VAT rate apply to specified food and basic goods.
Export and re-export of these goods are prohibited during the relief period.

Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.