The Tunisian government is preparing to impose new customs duties on imported computers and smartphones increasing the current tax rate on them.

The measures, set to come into effect next year, are in an effort to boost the domestic financial incomes.

An official in the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) expressed concern about increase in prices.

He said the Ministry of Finance has informed the professionals about its intention to impose customs taxes of 20 per cent on products, in addition to increasing the value added tax from six per cent to 18 per cent.

He said that the new tax increases are likely to be put in force in early January, if not before the coming year, and that this issue will directly affect the prices consumers will pay.

In 2015, Tunisians spent 450,000 hours using their mobile phones, up from 350,000 hours in 2012, according to a report by the National Telecommunications Authority (INT).