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Does Egypt need a 60% tariff?
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TRACKING NO. 20260228 / GLOBAL Zhongshen Trade · 23+ Years of Expert Trade Agency
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We have an Egyptian client who said their import tariffs are 60%, and the cost is too high, so they want us to reduce the price. I checked, and it doesn't seem that high. What's going on here? Could this be just an excuse for the client to try to negotiate a lower price?
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
The 60% tariff you mentioned requires a case-by-case analysis. Egypt's tariff system adopts a dual-track system of Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) and general tariff rates. For the vast majority of industrial products，the MFN tariff rate ranges between 5% and 30%. The 60% figure might stem from three scenarios。
1. Your product falls into Egypt's high-tariff sensitive categories，such as specific textiles，plastic products，or automotive parts。
2. The client calculated the comprehensive cost by bundling tariffs，value-added tax，sales tax，and port fees。
3. Egypt applies punitive tariffs to products with non-compliant certificates of origin。
The safest approach is to ask the client to provide a pre-ruling document from the Egyptian Customs HS Code database，or bring the product's detailed specifications to the Commercial Section of the Egyptian Embassy in China or our partner customs broker for tariff pre-confirmation。
Remember not to trust verbal claims—tariff rates must be based on the official tariff schedule published by the Egyptian Ministry of Finance's Customs Authority. Additionally，Egypt strictly reviews Form A certificates of origin. Even a single spelling error may disqualify you from preferential tariff treatment，so avoid this risk in advance.
Victor SunYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Risk Control ManagerStart a Chat
From a logistics operational perspective, the level of tariffs directly determines which trade terms we choose when quoting prices. If the client insists on a 60% tariff cost, you must first clarify whether this refers to the total cost under CIF or DDP terms. My advice is to firmly avoid DDP for initial collaborations, as Egypt's customs clearance process is complex, tariff calculation methods are opaque, and it's easy to fall into a passive position. A more secure approach is to quote FOB or CIF prices, leaving the tariff responsibility entirely to the client. In practice, Egyptian customs conduct strict value verification. Underreporting invoice amounts is a red line - once detected, not only will the goods be confiscated, but the client will also be blacklisted. You can suggest the client adopt the "temporary import" or "bonded warehouse" model to test small orders first and observe the actual tariff rates during customs clearance. Additionally, Egypt's port demurrage fees are extremely high, and even minor document errors can result in additional costs. Therefore, the four key documents - bill of lading, invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin - must be consistent with each other. Once logistics costs are controlled, the true nature of tariffs will become clearer.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
When clients bring up tariffs as a negotiating point, it's often a prelude to price discussions. Never directly refute them by saying "impossible," as this could damage their face. A more tactful approach is to first show understanding: "Indeed, import costs are a reality we all face." Then guide the client to provide written proof: "To help you secure the best solution, could you please provide a sample of the Egyptian customs invoice or pre-classification documents? This will enable us to apply for special pricing support from our finance department." This approach demonstrates professionalism while shifting the responsibility back to the client. If the client does provide evidence of high tariffs, you can propose a phased payment plan: for example, requiring a 30% down payment and negotiating adjustments to the remaining balance after they obtain the official customs invoice. This protects your interests while demonstrating cooperation and goodwill. Remember, Egyptian businesspeople are flexible negotiators who may not genuinely want to switch suppliers—they're simply testing your price bottom line. Stay patient and use data and processes to persuade them, rather than simply offering price reductions.