Ammon News - The government's order to reduce and standardise customs fees will go into force next week after being published in the official gazette.

Mohammad al-Ississ, the finance minister, told journalists the order contributes to strengthening Jordanians' purchasing power and breathing life into trade and tourism.

Al-Ississ said tax evasion and smuggling will be checked in light of the many customs reforms.

The new reforms will guarantee the exemption of over 53 percent of imported goods from customs fees, while 40 percent of the goods will be subject to a 5 percent fee, al-Ississ said, highlighting that cars, alcohol and tobacco will not be exempted.

He added that the order does not cover commodities bought online, explaining that the reason for this is to encourage consumers to buy locally produced goods. He said this would create an "equilibrium between electronic and traditional trade."