The new customs rules regulating the import of goods for personal use, which came into force on May 1, caused active public discussion. Bobur Bekmurodov, chairman of the Yuksalish National Movement, criticized these changes, noting that the logical basis for such measures is weak, especially for products not produced in Uzbekistan.
Bekmurodov spoke about the updated rules in the "Davra" podcast broadcast on the "Uzbekistan 24" TV channel. In accordance with the government decree, customs benefits for individuals have been significantly changed since spring of this year.
The duty-free import limit for air passengers has been reduced from $2,000 to $1,000. For those traveling by rail and river, this limit has been reduced from $1,000 to $500.
The strictest restrictions were introduced at automobile and pedestrian crossings, where the limit was set at $300. Special attention was paid to international courier services.
Instead of a quarterly limit of $1,000, a monthly limit of $200 has been introduced for these services used for online purchases. According to Bekmurodov, such measures may negatively affect consumers who order special goods, including technical devices, not produced in the country.
He said: "People bring in equipment and pay taxes, and entrepreneurs pay taxes. It's not very logical to limit products that have no analogues in the country." According to him, this position is widely supported by members of the "Yuksalish" movement.
The organization plans to collect citizens' opinions and convey them to government agencies that make decisions. Bekmurodov cited the growing popularity of iPhone smartphones as an example: "If 100,000 people use iPhones today, tomorrow this number will reach 500,000. The question arises - will we limit 500,000 people?"
The Customs Committee stated that strengthening these rules is aimed at supporting local producers, creating a fair competitive environment, and combating "soybean imports." The committee's analysis showed that customs-free import rules were often used for commercial purposes, not for personal use.
The issue of customs limits led to a conflict of interest: on the one hand, the goal of protecting the domestic market of the state and regulating imports, and on the other hand, the need for citizens to use a wide range of products that are not available in the country. The Yuksalish movement emphasizes the need to continue dialogue to find a balanced solution.
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