Customs duties threaten the phone industry in Egypt.

Starting from midnight, Egypt begins to deactivate imported smartphones that have not paid the customs fees, estimated at around 38% of the device's value. The decision, activated after an announcement by the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Customs Authority in January, includes an electronic system via the "My Phone" app to allow citizens to register imported smartphones and pay the required fees. According to the decision, every person entering from abroad can bring in one imported phone without paying any fees, as long as they declare the device at customs or through the electronic app. As for residents in Egypt, authorities have granted them a 90-day period since the decision's implementation to pay the fees on their phones, while visitors can leave with their devices without fees if they meet legal specifications. The deadline for fee payment was supposed to end at the end of last March, but it was extended by an additional week due to the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Therefore, as of April 7th, current phones that have not had the required fees paid will be deactivated. This system, activated for the first time in January, aims to regulate the imported phone market and combat device smuggling, as smartphone manufacturers in Egypt have complained about the increase in smuggled devices affecting their sales. The implementation of these customs fees also impacts second-hand imported phones purchased by citizens. These policies aim to strengthen the local industry, as some major companies like Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme, and Infinix are manufacturing their phones in Egypt.