No Monopoly on Paper Imports

Paper is one of the necessity goods whose import is not monopolized by a company or individual, a statement by the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade reads. Importers of necessity goods can enjoy foreign exchange rates at preferential tariffs, which are set lower than the market rate, while the ministry has also decided to keep import tariff rates unchanged [at 5%] until the end of the year. As per the newly released statement, “the problem associated with the 9% value added tax on production, print and electricity consumption has been resolved”, IRNA reported. The recent sudden increase in paper price is mainly to blame on local currency depreciation, global rising costs of paper raw material and rumors swirling around a ban on imports or fluctuations in foreign currency rates by some mass media and opportunists, the statement concluded.