Importers are required to seek a formal import authorization (Demande Déscriptive d’Importation, or DDI) from the Ministry of Commerce to bring in quantities that are more than 12 million GNF. This is government regulation.
Import Tariffs
Most imports into Guinea are subject to a flat 10 percent duty. Public institutions, donor organizations, and some “protected regimes” (see Establishing an Office) may, nevertheless, be free from this rule. Privileged regimes enjoy a six percent duty on raw materials and an exemption from import taxes on machinery and equipment used for investment projects. A one to two percent tax applies to basic foods and agricultural products, and some things (such some medicines) are tax-exempt. Luxury goods like automobiles, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and the majority of other consumer goods are subject to a surtax. The surtax can range from 20 to 70%. For vehicles, the surtax ranges between 20 and 30 percent.
Guinea has four rates for import taxes. DFI, or Droit Fiscal d’Importation, is the name of the import rate. The rates, which range from zero to twenty percent, are posted on the website of the Ministry of Investment.
- For products connected to health, education, and information, 0%
- A 5% rate for basic foods, raw materials, assets, and machinery.
- 10% for industrial inputs and semi-finished goods
- 20% for finished consumer goods
Trade barriers
A value-added tax at a flat rate of 18 percent is applied to everything that is taxable in the country. Numerous businesses have asserted, although this is not a typical “barrier,” that their operations are being unfairly burdened as a result of the fact that competitors with political ties enjoy beneficial tax exemptions. Business executives have also voiced their dissatisfaction with delays of one month or more between the arrival of a container in Conakry and the release of its contents to the importer. These delays have been attributed to congestion in the port of Conakry as well as new internal procedures implemented by the government to combat corruption. Rice, sugar, cooking oil, and wheat are among the products that cannot be brought into Guinea via its land borders here.
Prohibited and restricted Imports
Without previous authorization from the Guinean government, the following things are not permitted to be brought into the country:
- Live animals and fresh meats
- Machines capable of manufacturing counterfeit currencies
- Firearms, ammunition, bullets, cartridges, and powders
- Military equipment
- Pornographic publications
- Medals and coins
- Poisonous and narcotic substances
- Explosives
- Live plants and soil fertilizers
- Fuel
- Products containing asbestos
- Used vehicles over 13 years old starting from July 15, 2021
Guinea custom regulations
Getting items through customs continues to be significantly complicated by the presence of corrupt officials. In September 2019, the Guinean government launched the Guichet Unique du Commerce Exterieur de Guinee, an internet site that functions as a one-stop shop for the country’s external trade. This platform controls commercial transaction management, simplifies the submission of customs declarations, and provides certificates and authorizations for imports and exports. After the customs declaration and before clearance, importers are obligated to verify the worth of the things that they have brought into the country. After that, Customs will generate a bill for the outstanding duties, which can either be transmitted directly to the Central Bank (beginning in August 2020) or to a local commercial bank through the portal (available starting in November 2020). With the help of the virtual bank receipt, products can virtually pass through customs if they are submitted through the site. Numerous shipping brokers based in the surrounding areas are on hand to offer essentially the same help, in addition to assisting with the storage of incoming goods.
