Consumers just want to buy what they can afford and since the duty on imported items is going up then the local items on offer must be cheaper and affordable.
Consumer Council chief executive Premila Kumar said consumers do not want to see the local industries selling similar products at higher prices.
Kumar said another issue is if the local manufacturers can meet the demand of the local consumers.
This is in reply to Interim Attorney General and Acting Interim Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum saying the import duty on items has been increased to target import substitution and to protect the local industry and to reduce the import bill.
Some of the items where the tariff band will increase from 27 to 32 percent include imported chicken, imported beef, pork shrimps, prawns, turkey, hams and other processed meats, imported butter, eggs, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, corned meat of sheep or lamb, imported biscuits, citrus fruits, peanut butter, imported undergarments, motor vehicles, heavy machinery and metal and wooden furniture.
Local Items Should Be Cheaper
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