Solomon Islands Finance and Treasury Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has directed the Customs and Excise Division to immediately impose a 15% export duty on alluvial gold and gold concentrates, while ordering authorities to recover unpaid duties retrospectively from the date the Harmonised System (HS) 2022 tariff schedule came into effect.
In a ministerial directive issued to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Lilo instructed the division to strictly apply the HS2022 tariff rates in accordance with international classification standards and the Customs and Excise Act.
"I write to direct your office to comply with and strictly apply the Harmonised System (HS) 2022 tariff rates in accordance with international classification standards and the Customs and Excise Act and its associated regulations," Lilo said.
The directive confirms that exports of alluvial gold and gold concentrates are subject to a 15% export duty under the HS2022 tariff schedule with immediate effect, superseding any previous ministerial directives covering those exports.
Lilo also instructed Customs and Excise to retrospectively recover duties on alluvial gold and gold concentrate exports made after the HS2022 tariff schedule was gazetted, saying those exports should already have been subject to the revised rates.
He said Customs officers must apply the updated tariff schedule consistently across all import and export transactions to safeguard government revenue, improve transparency and ensure compliance with international trade standards established by the World Customs Organization.
The Ministry of Finance and Treasury said it will work closely with the Customs and Excise Division to ensure full implementation of the directive and compliance with the revised tariff regime.
