President Shavkat Mirziyoyev gave a number of instructions at a government meeting today to create equal conditions for doing business, ease exports and eliminate price differences between local and imported goods.
According to the head of state, in some cases, goods are being imported to Uzbek market at dumped prices, which puts domestic manufacturers at a disadvantage.
In particular, if a small refrigerator made in Uzbekistan with a price tag of $220 is sold for $250 and is subject to VAT of $30, then an imported analogue is issued at a price of $25, and the tax on it is only $3. Thus, the local manufacturer pays 10 times more taxes than the importer.
According to the new decree, the procedure for determining the customs value of imported goods will be fully brought into line with international standards.
The president also touched on the issue of labeling. Despite adopting a digital labeling system for soft drinks, household appliances, pharmaceuticals, alcohol and tobacco, unmarked products are still sold on the market.
According to him, due to the fact that not all stores operate according to the rules, the chain of control is disrupted.
The Tax and Customs Committees have been instructed to develop measures to reduce the negative impact of labeling on production volumes and strengthen control over its compliance.
The president pointed out that due to restrictions on the export of some popular goods, the country is missing out on significant opportunities.
From July 1, all restrictions on the export of all goods will be lifted, save for 86 product groups, including raw materials and socially significant products, for which export duties will remain.
“It is important to clearly understand: if businesses enter expensive markets, they will have an incentive to manufacture more, improve quality, grow and earn money,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized.
