Reduce duty on brand-new imported clothes - Kumar

Reduce duty on brand-new imported clothes and apply an appropriate rate on imported second-hand clothes.

That is the call from the Consumer Council of Fiji Chief Executive Officer Premila Kumar to the Government.

Kumar said the high duty on new clothes is resulting in high retail prices.

Kumar said clothing is an essential need and consumers are forced to pay high prices due to the current taxes on imported garments which is 32% fiscal duty with an added 15% VAT.

Kumar has also raised concern on the boom of prices in the used or second-hand market that is largely unregulated because of the high retail prices.

She said this follows complaints from the consumers on the high prices of second-hand clothes including other personal items like second-hand shoes.

Kumar added that second-hand retailers are generating high profits from the very low duty they are incurring and the high retail prices they are charging.