Traders syndicate says basic food items ‘will not be affected by additional duties’

AMMAN — The Foodstuff Traders Association (FTA) on Saturday said it has received assurances from the government that 80 per cent of basic food items will not be subjected to the 5 per cent endorsed recently in additional customs service fee.

FTA President Khalil Haj Tawfiq, in a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said the government is committed to the pledge it has made not to raise the sales tax on more than 70 per cent of essential food items, consumed by low-and-middle-income segments of society, regardless of their origin. Tawfiq said a complete list of exempted items will be published in the coming days by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply.