UK Begins Review of Lower Trade Tariffs With Afghanistan
Britain’s special envoy for Afghanistan said in a video call with the Taliban administration’s acting minister of industry and commerce that London is pursuing measures to facilitate trade and reduce customs tariffs on exports and imports. The position comes as banking and financial restrictions remain among the main obstacles to expanding Afghanistan’s trade with European countries.
Nouruddin Azizi, the Taliban administration’s acting minister of industry and commerce, discussed the country’s economic situation, investment opportunities and how to engage with the international community with Richard Lindsay during the meeting. According to the British side, London intends to gradually shift its policy from purely humanitarian aid toward direct economic cooperation.
Richard Lindsay also reported the continuation of British humanitarian assistance and welcomed what he described as Kabul’s positions for constructive engagement with the international community. However, no details were released on the timetable or practical mechanism for these trade facilitations.
In recent years, the expansion of Afghanistan’s trade relations with European countries has faced legal and financial challenges. International banking sanctions and the continued freezing of Afghanistan’s foreign currency assets are seen as among the most significant obstacles weighing on the private sector’s financial transactions.
Britain is among the Western countries that closed its embassy in Kabul after the events of August 2021, but over the past year it has continued to address issues such as trade, transit and the management of development aid through special envoy missions and virtual and regional meetings, without recognizing the Taliban administration.
