Tiraspol, 10 June. /Novosti Pridnestrovya/. The government has issued a statement which runs as follows:
«The spiraling exchange crisis is still disturbing the public. The impossibility of purchasing foreign currency and, as a result, a reduced flow of people going to the neighbouring states to buy basic products have given rise to a new wave of disturbances among the population.
«Under current circumstances one of the government's most important tasks was to level out competitive conditions for import and domestic products being sold in the home market, to fill the market with basic food products and reduce prices for them.
«Thus, in April 2016 the government approved a number of decrees providing for the reduction of import duties and excises for a range of food products and POL (petrol, oil and lubricants).
«On the whole, the existing customs duties were reduced to 50%. For example, a pork duty is reduced by 5 times and fixed at 10%, but no less than $0.5 per 1 kg. Earlier, the duty was 15%, but no less than $2.5 per kg. Besides, petrol and light oil excises have also been reduced by 10%.
«All these measures, according to the government, should have influenced retail prices. A month after those norms had come into effect, specialists of the Ministry of Economic Development analysed the prices for these goods in some retail outlets: Sheriff and Fourchette in Tiraspol, Prague in Bendery, and Baikal in Rybnitsa.
«Despite the government's efforts, the prices have not only changed in these retail chains, but even gone up for some items. It must be noted, therefore, that despite our expectations, the price policy has not changed towards the reduction of import prices. The business community has shown social irresponsibility.
«The above mentioned decrees are valid until 1 July 2016, which means the owners of retail chains still have a month to think about their clients, Pridnestrovian citizens.
«The efficiency of the government's measures will be evaluated based on the monitoring results, after which the government will decide whether to prolongate or suspend them.»
