Jan 6, 2013

In Liberia: Gov’t Extends Suspension of Tariff on Rice

In its Executive Order No. 45 issued over the weekend in Monrovia, Government said that in its desire to continue bringing relief to the public, it hereby extends Executive Order No. 19, suspending the import tariff on rice as classified under tariff Nos. 1006.30.00 (in packing of more than 5kg or in bulk); 1006.30.00 (in packing of at least 5kg); and 1006.40.00 (broken rice) under the Revenue Code of Liberia Act 2000.

The Executive Order took immediate effect upon its issuance. It notes that the Government of Liberia has conducted an assessment and evaluation of the causes of increases in the price of strategic commodities and intends to initiate measures to ameliorate (improve, upgrade) the situation. It said that in furtherance of the findings of this assessment, Government has recognized the need to curb the continual increases in the price of rice, the country’s staple, to make it affordable for public purchase.

“And  in the exercise of the Executive Power vested in the President by the Constitution, the President issued Executive Orders No. 11 and 19 imposing a suspension of import tariff on rice in the public interest, to correct this particular situation,” President Ellen Johnson said as she penned the Executive Order.

Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia over the weekend issued an Executive Order reinstituting the suspension of protective tariff on cement.

In its Executive Order No. 46, the government said in the interest of national reconstruction and development, hereby re-institutes a suspension of the US$2.00 protective tariff per 50kg bag of Portland cement imposed under the Revenue Code of Liberia, tariff No. 25.23.

The Executive Order takes effect immediately. It states that to encourage the establishment of local industries for the supply of goods to the general public, the Government of Liberia granted certain incentives to local industries, including CEMENCO for the production of cement.

According to the Executive Order, the Government under Executive Order No. 31, inter alia, re-imposed a suspension on the protective tariff of two United States Dollars (US$2.00) as required under the Revenue Code of Liberia tariff No. 25.23 for a 50kg bag of Portland cement used for construction.

It added that Executive Order No. 31 has expired but the need still exists to encourage local industries to supply cement to the general public at reasonable prices and that the Government recognizes the need to protect the consuming public by mitigating the adverse effect from the global price increase in certain strategic commodities, including cement, the cost of which continues to rise on the market to the disadvantage of the consumers and the national reconstruction efforts.

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