Associate professor with sharp criticism of the potato tariff

From September, a percentage duty will be introduced on the import of potatoes. The purpose is to strengthen the competitiveness of Norwegian potatoes and increase self-sufficiency. In the past, potato importers have paid a fixed krone duty per kilo.

In addition, the duty is increased to 191 per cent in the low season. Some economists have predicted a potato price of up to NOK 100 per kilo, as a result of the changes, writes Finansavisen.

– It is brainwashing that this is the best system. Import protection provides protection against competition, and it feels safe for the players, says a critical Ivar Gaasland, who is an associate professor at BI Business School, to the newspaper.

He believes the customs duty affects the consumer.

– It affects competition in the market, the availability of good quality goods, and contributes to inflation, he says to Finansavisen.

According to him, it would be better to combine subsidies with deregulating the market, and let farmers compete in a market where prices are not set politically.

In recent years, the debate about high grocery prices has raged. Several have pointed out that weak competition among grocery chains and suppliers. Gaasland believes that import protection is to blame for weak competition in the entire value chain for groceries.

Political adviser in the Ministry of Agriculture, Siv Sætran (Sp), rejects the criticism.

– Ivar Gaasland disregards the goals of increased self-sufficiency, food security, preparedness and agriculture across the country in his analysis. Researchers can do that, but not politicians, she says.