Finance minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has directed the Customs and Excise Division to immediately enforce a 15 per cent export duty on alluvial gold and gold concentrates exported from Solomon Islands.
Lilo issued the Ministerial Instruction to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise, requiring the Division to strictly apply the Harmonised System (HS) 2022 tariff rates in line with international trade classification standards and Solomon Islands’ customs laws.
“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,” Minister Lilo stated.
The HS2022 framework, developed under the World Customs Organisation (WCO), provides updated international tariff classifications designed to ensure consistency in the way goods are classified and taxed in global trade.
Minister Lilo said Customs officers must apply the tariff rates consistently across all import and export transactions to protect government revenue, improve transparency and support efficient trade administration.
The Ministerial Directive confirms that the 15 per cent export duty on alluvial gold and gold concentrates under HS2022 takes effect immediately.
It also overrides any previous directives relating to the export of these products.
Minister Lilo further directed Customs and Excise to review exports of alluvial gold and gold concentrates made since the gazetting of HS2022 and recover any outstanding revenue where the applicable export duty was not paid.
“The Ministry of Finance and Treasury will work closely with the Customs and Excise Division to ensure full implementation and compliance with the directive,” a government statement said.
