Rice importers are voicing concerns about what they consider unfair duty exemptions granted by the government for emergency rice imports. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently secured parliamentary approval to import rice without taxes and duties under a special arrangement aimed at mitigating potential food shortages due to extended dry spells in various regions.
However, many importers argue that these Duty exemptions are being selectively granted to a few entities, disadvantaging other market participants. They contend that this selective approach undermines fair competition in the rice import sector, which could result in higher prices for consumers, as only a limited number of importers can offer competitive rates with the tax breaks.
John Awuni, Chairman of the Rice Importers Association, cautioned that this uneven playing field could adversely affect the availability and affordability of rice for households across the country.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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