Lebanon announces permission to import used clothes

According to local media reports in Lebanon, the Ministry of Economy and Trade of Lebanon announced on April 29 that it would revise the 2004 policy banning the import of used clothes and allow the import of used clothes.
The introduction of this new policy caused dissatisfaction among the Lebanese Industrialists Association. The association stated that Lebanon imported more than 30 million pieces of used clothing, 90% of which were consumed in the Lebanese domestic market. It believed that the new policy harmed the interests of the local garment manufacturing industry and had already made a request to the government, hoping to impose a 5% special tax on all imported clothing.
According to reports, although the previous policy did not allow it, many old clothes still entered Lebanon through various channels. According to Lebanese customs statistics, Lebanon imported 4,923 tons of used clothing in 2008, with an average price of US$0.81/kg. The top five import source countries are: Germany (US$2.3 million, average price of US$0.83/kg), the United States (US$480,000, The average price is US$0.94/kg), Belgium (US$370,000, the average price is US$0.73/kg), Turkey (US$350,000, the average price is US$0.71/kg), and the United Kingdom (US$140,000, the average price is US$0.75/kg).
Lebanon imports used clothes from China for US$9,000, with an average price of US$1.5/kg, ranking 19th.