Basil for cuts to fresh food imports

 THE government must impose an embargo, reduce tariff, or place quota on imported fresh fruit, vegetable and livestock imports that can be produced locally, deputy Opposition leader Sam Basil (pictured) said.

Basil said the country in the longer term, would increase production and ensure the constant supply of quality farm produce. 

“Further, the government must grant tax and tariff exemptions to local producers and manufacturers of processed food, clothing and canned consumer items that use local materials.”

“Such exemptions should match those that the government gave to foreign investors.”

Basil said: “While we are waiting for miracles to happen, the kina is depreciating. “When would our coffee, cocoa, copra, vanilla, spice,beef, honey and poultry exports benefit from tax or tariff exemptions?

“The LNG agreement and mining projects were signed in US dollar, so whatever they exported is not affected.”

Basil said the government must intervene so that once the kina depreciated making imported goods and services expensive, the local industry could support us. 

“If we do not act now, we will continue to suffer the increase in price of goods and services”. 

Basil urged the government to look at some schemes to ensure that the price of goods and services were not increased until the imported goods were actually in the country.

He said the rise in fuel prices would take immediate effect, contributing to the high cost of production, travel and transport.

“The government needs to take steps to review any agreements such as thoses with InterOil and others to ensure prices are maintained or allow available stocks on hand now, to be sold before the ICCC allowed any increase in fuel prices.