Includes information on average tariff rates and types that U.S. firms should be aware of when exporting to the market.
Last Published: 7/24/2019

In general, the government charges higher import duties on finished goods than on raw materials and intermediate goods, as a means of assisting the country’s productive sector. Since 2009, the government had reduced some import tariffs to align them with regional and international practices.

There are three different types of payments upon importation of goods into Zimbabwe: import duty, surtax, and value added tax (VAT) as described in the Harmonized System Tariffs Handbook and other relevant subsequent legislation. Most imported goods are subject to surtax and VAT.  The government uses the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) method of customs valuation.

While the adoption of the multicurrency monetary regime in 2009 eliminated exchange controls on current account transactions, lack of foreign exchange forced the government to introduce a surrogate currency (bond notes) in 2016.  This move failed to improve cash and liquidity within the economy forcing the government to introduce another pseudo currency called the real time gross settlement (RTGS) dollar.  The government then established an interbank market for foreign exchange in February 2019 to try and improve the availability of foreign exchange.  In spite of this, foreign exchange remains scarce resulting in the continued depreciation of the RTGS dollar on the interbank market and a weaker black market rate.. The government re-introduced export surrender requirements of 20 percent of proceeds for most exporters, 45 percent for gold producers, 50 percent for all other minerals, and 70 percent for tobacco and cotton farmers to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.  Such surrender requirements act as a tax on exports.  Exporters receive compensation in local currency at the official exchange rate, effectively reducing the value of the export.

Until 2008, companies exported all base minerals through the state-owned Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ). Effective 2014, gold producers are required to sell to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. However, individual companies still have permission from the government of Zimbabwe to directly market most other minerals and thus avoid the MMCZ and the targeted sanctions on MMCZ by the United States.

All exports require a customs declaration form (CD1) to ensure that exporters remit proceeds back to the country within 90 days. Some wildlife products are restricted through international conventions governing their trade, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The government created export processing zones with generous incentives to attract and facilitate export-oriented investment.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.