RIYADH, 1 April 2008 — The Council of Ministers yesterday agreed to cut customs tariff on 180 products — including foodstuffs, building materials and consumer goods — by 15 to 20 percent, Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said.

Madani told the Saudi Press Agency that the government would bear the difference between the unified GCC customs tariff and the Kingdom’s protection tariff for three years.

Saleh Al-Khulaiwi, director general of customs, said the byproducts of wheat would be exempt from previous tariff, in accordance with the new Cabinet decision. A 25-percent tariff was earlier imposed on these products, he added.

“The new decision also covers several products — including frozen chicken, eggs, vegetable oil, macaroni, milk, juices and canned food — that were previously imported after paying a tariff of 20 percent. Tariffs for these items have been reduced to five percent,” Al-Khulaiwi said.

Other major products receiving tariff cuts are bottled water, soap, sanitary pads, napkins, tissue papers, detergents, gypsum, paints, plastic pipes, materials required for doors, electric wire, pre-cast building blocks and fertilizers.

Al-Khulaiwi also said 664 products — mostly foodstuffs, meat, fish, medicine, educational tools, IT materials and animal fodder — are exempt from customs tariffs.

He said the revised tariff would be applied by custom officials at entry points to the Kingdom from today.

Lebanon in Focus

Referring to other discussions, Madani said ministers emphasized the need to implement a resolution on the political crisis in Lebanon passed by Arab League foreign ministers during a meeting in Cairo last week.

The Cairo meeting called for the appointment of Lebanon’s army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as the country’s next president. It also urged the formation of a national unity government and the adoption of a new electoral law.

Further, the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, urged Palestinian groups to agree on a national unity government.

The Cabinet also stressed the need to adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative to achieve lasting peace.

The Cabinet meeting said solving the Palestinian issue was an international responsibility, resting primarily on permanent UN Security Council members.

The Cabinet meeting held Israel’s allies responsible for its continuing atrocities and human rights violations even as they themselves “clamor for human rights and people’s freedom.”

The Cabinet announced its decision to allow Turkish Ziraat Bank to operate in the Kingdom. It also endorsed Saudi Arabian Minerals Company’s (Maaden) annual report for 2005.

Also, the Cabinet authorized Agriculture Minister Dr. Fahd Balghuneim to sign a cooperation agreement with Sudan on livestock and veterinary services.

It approved regulations on how private schools should use their premises and reviewed progress on health projects.