Libyan traders demand suspension of new foreign trade rules

Libyan traders and small-scale importers are calling on Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba and Minister of Economy and Trade Suhail Abu Shiha to suspend new foreign trade regulations. The protesters are specifically targeting Decisions No. 428, 449, and 465 of 2026, which regulate import procedures and mandate the use of the Unified Digital PTS Import System.

Merchants argue that these measures threaten the livelihoods of thousands of families and jeopardize the survival of small businesses. A primary concern is the unequal access to foreign currency required to pay overseas suppliers. Business owners affiliated with the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce stated that many merchants are forced to rely on the parallel market for financing because official letters of credit are concentrated among a limited circle of beneficiaries.

The traders are demanding a fair and transparent system that guarantees equal import opportunities for businesses of all sizes. They have called for the immediate postponement or cancellation of the decisions until they can be reviewed and redrafted with the inclusion of relevant stakeholders.