Head of the Beirut Traders' Association Nicolas Chammas voiced his concerns about the new measure, saying that traders want to encourage the local industry, but instead of increasing the prices of imported products, the government should have reduced the cost of production in Lebanon.
"This new measure will lead to price hikes of various items including aluminum and other products that are used in several industries, in addition to clothes, shoes and items that are used by limited-income citizens," he said.
Meanwhile, Adnan Rammal, representative of the trade sector in the Economic and Social Council, said that this new measure will lead consumers to pay additional 5 percent to 10 percent for the prices of products.
"When products arrive at Port of Beirut, importers will pay more taxes, and then wholesalers and retailers will increase prices to secure profits. After all this, we have to add the value added tax and income tax. The products' final prices will increase tremendously," Rammal explained.
Rammal believes that such a move should have been studied more to avoid hurting the trade sector.
"Some factories in Lebanon can produce products of high quality that can be consumed by citizens which we support for sure. But when taxes are imposed on all products except for only a few items, this will increase monopoly and smuggling," he said.
As for economist Jassem Ajaka, he had a totally different opinion.
【国际英语资讯:News Analysis: Economists differ on Lebanons new flat tax on imports】相关文章:
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