The Minister of Economy and Trade in the caretaker government, Amin Salam, addressed, during a press conference held in his office in the ministry, the issue of the customs dollar and its impact on foodstuffs and the role of the ministry in this regard, and said: “We called for this press conference in a hurry to clarify matters It is essential for the Lebanese citizen to be aware of what is happening with us, and this is one of our duties after news of the increase in the price of the customs dollar and the change in the price of the dollar in the 2022 budget, and its impact on the issue of foodstuffs in particular.”
He pointed out that “the goal of the conference is to comfort the citizen and to address the impact of the rise in the customs dollar on foodstuffs and food security.” exceptional financial and monetary.
He added, “The 2022 budget has been studied to have an exceptional nature, as it addresses the situation of a crisis country and a public sector we all know, and unacceptable treasury revenues. In a country that accounts for the state through public finance on the basis of the price of 1500 pounds to the dollar, the change should have occurred.” Previously, continuing the customs dollar as it is currently hits the state’s finances and is exploited by the private sector.”
He continued, “In the auto sector, for example, Lebanon did not witness the import of luxury cars, as happened in the past seven months. Cars with prices of hundreds of thousands of dollars entered it to take advantage of the current customs dollar price on the basis of 1500. One of the cars cost 50 thousand dollars in customs according to its classification, and it is The tax on it, according to the current customs dollar price, is 75 million pounds, or about $2,000, instead of 50 thousand, and this is not fair and unfair to the Lebanese public treasury.”
He pointed out that “there is a country that must be run, with public administrations and salaries.”
Salam added: “As Minister of Economy, I wanted to clarify that when I returned to studying the budget, there were numbers and assets that predicted that it was not possible to continue by adopting the customs dollar rate on the basis of 1500, because the state would collapse. Consequently, the public sector would collapse, along with the collapse of salaries. In order to improve it, an amendment must be made, which is what brought us to the customs dollar.”
He continued: “It was talked about setting the customs dollar at 12 thousand, and there were demands from the private sector that it be at the price of 8 thousand and other numbers, but this matter was studied in a way that makes its repercussions acceptable to society, in order to ensure the citizen and the consumer before the state.”
He pointed out that “a large number of ministers and advisers made it clear that these taxes will affect luxuries, which is a loose description,” and he said: “Actually, they are heading towards luxuries, and it is fair and equitable that the tax dollar or the new customs dollar is applied to them, as it is impossible to continue on the price of 1500, and everyone is aware of this.”
Salam explained: “Two days ago, it was talked about taking the decision to adopt a price of 20 thousand. Today, I am not authorized to fix this price as official. President Najib Mikati submitted a request letter, because the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Banque du Liban are authorized to give the final word on which pricing should start. working with it.”
He pointed out that “the Minister of Finance will explain later how this dollar will move.”
He stressed that “this price will help improve the state’s finances, revive the public sector, restore rights to the employee in order for public administrations to continue their work, and prevent the collapse of the state. It will also help the state from 6 months to a year in passing the current crisis, and the matter is later subject to review and study.” and be of economic feasibility.
He said: “No decision was taken in a random way. We used to hear about a lot of things happening randomly in the budgets. Today, I confirm, specifically on the issue of the customs dollar, that it was difficult for everyone to make the decision to raise it, regardless of the materials it will target, because it is It will serve the public interest and the state treasury, provided that its repercussions do not directly harm the citizen.”