Taiwan: Tariff halved on fruit to tackle soaring prices

The government announced Tuesday that it will halve the tariff on imported fruit such as apples, nectarines and kiwi fruit from Oct. 6 in an effort to tackle spiralling fruit prices in the wake of two typhoons that has hit the country in recent months.

Vice Premier Jiang Yi-huah said at a press conference that the two-month new policy is aimed at stabilizing domestic fruit prices and reducing the burden on consumers, before major domestic fruit products, such as bananas, citrus and oranges, enter their peak season from late-October to mid-November.

According to data from the Taipei city vegetable and fruit wholesale market, average price of fruit in September had soared to NT$47.2 (US$1.61) per kilogram -- up about 60 percent from a year earlier -- due to typhoon damage, the highest level in five years.

The transaction volume for produce in September decreased by 16 percent to 15,675 metric tons, the lowest level in five years, because of a supply shortage, said Jiang.

Source: focustaiwan.tw