Mobile phones are among some 900 products Algeria has temporarily banned from being import into the northern African country.
Other items affected by the ban include household appliances and all vegetables except garlic according to Reuters.
The rest are furniture, some meats and fruits, cheeses, chocolates, pastries, pasta, juice, bottled waters and some building materials. The import ban, took effect on Sunday.
Algeria is hoping to reduce its import bill due to short-falls in energy earnings which has impacted its spending.
As an oil producing country, Algeria uses 60 percent of earnings from oil and gas for its budget but revenue from oil and gas has experienced major cut.
An official document from the ministry of trade in Algeria said “The import suspension of those products is limited in time, and will be lifted gradually with or without maintaining or increasing taxes and other duties.”
Previously the country operated a license system, where importers apply for a licence to buy from overseas.
Source: Africafeeds.com
