Lebanon to Lower Import Tariff on Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Items of lowering the import tariff on hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are to be included in Lebanon's 2010 fiscal budget draft, jointly announced by Lebanon's Ministry of Finance and Lebanon's Department of Environmental Protection.

It is an important source of revenue for Lebanon to levy tariff on imported vehicles. For instance, in the first two months of 2010, Lebanon's tariff revenue on imported vehicles amounted to USD 52.2 million, accounting for 19 percent and 5 percent respectively of total tariff revenue and of total tax revenue.

It is reported that the two authorities herein are under researching of a new plan for replacing a total of 20,000 taxies with environmentally-friendly vehicles, because 70 percent to 80 percent of air pollution in Lebanon, estimated by environmental experts, was caused by vehicle emissions.