The Palestinian Authority to raise taxes on imports

The Palestinian Authority will raise import taxes to encourage consumers to buy local produce, the economy minister said Tuesday. Starting next week, extra taxes will be applied to foreign goods, particularly those imported from China, Jawad Naji told Ma'an TV. "The government is taking these steps to encourage Palestinian goods locally and to be exported to other countries," the minister said. Tareq Abu al-Failat, head of a union for leather producers, welcomed the decision. "This decision will increase Palestinian productions especially shoes and leather," he said. Muhammad Nafeth al-Hirbawi, head of a forum for Palestinian businessmen, urged the PA to do more to support local industry by decreasing water, fuel and electricity costs. Such cuts would increase the production of local factories, allowing them to satisfy the local market and export more, al-Hirbawi said.