Lebanese Cabinet Suspends Tax Decree in Emergency Session

The Lebanese Cabinet convened an extraordinary session chaired by Nawaf Salam, attended by ministers including Yassin Jaber (Finance), Ghassan Salameh (Culture), Michel Mounsey (Defense), Joe Seddi (Energy and Water), Laura Khazen (Tourism), Hanin Al-Sayed (Social Affairs), Amer Al-Bassat (Economy and Trade), Kamal Shehadeh (Displaced Persons and IT & Artificial Intelligence Affairs), Charles Al-Hajj (Communications), Rima Karami (Education and Higher Education), Fadi Makki (Administrative Development Affairs), Mohammad Haidar (Labor), Faiz Rassamni (Public Works and Transport), Nizar Hani (Agriculture), Paul Marqos (Media), and Tamara Al-Zein (Environment). The Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Judge Mahmoud Makkiya, was also present.

Following the session, the Minister of Information provided the following official statement:

The Cabinet held an emergency meeting today with a single agenda item concerning the schedule related to the decree imposing fees on certain goods. The Cabinet reached the following decisions:

It reaffirmed the necessity of enforcing Law No. 38 dated 5-1-2026, which represents a reform step to establish principles of regulatory and financial governance in managing the waste sector. This law is based on the "polluter pays" principle and addresses the need for the state, rather than local authorities, to cover waste treatment costs. Consequently, the schedule related to customs duties on imported products was amended, resulting in Decree No. 3214 dated 15-6-2026.

Given the current living conditions, economic situation, and repercussions of the war, and after deliberation, the Cabinet decided to suspend the implementation of Decree No. 3214 dated 15-6-2026 until the schedule of attached customs duty rates is reconsidered.