{"id":681431,"date":"2026-01-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/?p=681431"},"modified":"2026-01-15T13:48:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T13:48:24","slug":"madbouly-government-doubles-down-on-customs-reform-to-drive-industrial-localization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/egypt\/2026\/01\/15\/madbouly-government-doubles-down-on-customs-reform-to-drive-industrial-localization\/","title":{"rendered":"Madbouly government doubles down on customs reform to drive industrial localization"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good afternoon, friends, and congratulations on another week well done.<\/strong> To wrap it up, we have news of a customs tariff revamp in the works on the home front and of Trump\u2019s latest tariffs targeting China. We also sat down with B.TECH founder and CEO Mahmoud Khattab to talk leadership lessons.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG STORY TODAY-<\/p>\n

? Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk is spearheading a comprehensive review of <\/strong>Egypt's customs tariffs to accelerate industrial localization<\/strong> and transform Egyptian ports into \u201cindustrial and logistical hubs.\u201d Speaking to the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), Kouchouk emphasized that the restructuring is designed to ensure fair competition and encourage the expansion of the transit trade sector, according to a ministry statement.<\/p>\n

We knew this move was on the horizon<\/strong>, with senior sources telling EnterpriseAM <\/a>last year<\/a> that a study was underway to amend tariffs and reduce \u201cdistortions.\u201d In December<\/a>, Customs Authority head Ahmed Amwi confirmed to us that while some tariffs on finished goods will rise to protect domestic producers, duties on production inputs will be slashed to provide a competitive edge.<\/p>\n

Why it matters: <\/strong>This isn\u2019t just about trade \u2014 it\u2019s about the surgical alignment of fiscal, tax, and industrial policy. Private sector investment surged 73% last year, while tax revenues grew by 35% without the imposition of new burdens, Kouchouk said. \u201cOur fiscal policies and our tax and customs initiatives strengthen a partnership of trust with the private sector,\u201d he stated, signaling a move toward a more predictable and investor-friendly regulatory environment.<\/p>\n

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-<\/p>\n

? (xxAA) The Trump administration has imposed a 25% tariff on AI processors sold <\/strong>to China<\/strong>, implementing a deal with Nvidia and AMD that reverses previous export bans in exchange for the government taking a cut of sales. The levy applies to chips like Nvidia\u2019s H200 and AMD\u2019s MI325X that pass through the US before reaching overseas customers. Chips imported for domestic AI development are exempt.<\/p>\n

The White House warned broader semiconductor tariffs could follow<\/strong>, while a separate probe into critical minerals may lead to new trade measures on metals like gallium and rare earths within 180 days.<\/p>\n

^^Read more on: Financial Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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