Liberian president Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has renewed the government’s commitment to protecting Liberia’s domestic industries through the issuance of Executive Order No. 156, which extends and updates the provisions of the earlier Executive Order No. 135.
The new Executive Order, signed and released from the Executive Mansion on Wednesday, November 12,v2025, continues a series of protective and stimulative measures aimed at strengthening local manufacturing, creating jobs, and shielding Liberian producers from unfair competition posed by imported goods.
Under Executive Order No. 156, the government has introduced updated Local Industry Development Surcharges on a range of imported products that threaten the viability of Liberian-made goods. The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has been directed to publish the applicable rates and affected product categories.
Items expected to face these surcharges include flour, biscuits, soap, tissue, soft drinks, and metal products, among others. The release says the move is intended to create a level playing field for local manufacturers, encourage reinvestment in domestic industries, and strengthen national value chains.
President Boakai emphasized that the policy forms part of Pillar One of the ARREST Agenda ~ which focuses on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism ~ and reflects his administration’s drive to promote sustainable economic growth and employment.
“Liberia’s prosperity depends on Liberians producing what they consume and adding value to what they export,” President Boakai stated, reaffirming his government’s vision for industrial development.
The Executive Order, which takes immediate effect, seeks to consolidate the gains made under Executive Order No. 135 while addressing current economic challenges facing local producers.
