Chicken importers have supported our call for VAT-free chicken, but in addition wanted the removal of import tariffs from imported chicken.
The local poultry industry pointed out that removal of the tariffs for which they had fought so hard would be a recipe for disaster.
The result would be a flood of dumped and predatory chicken imports, and the loss of possibly thousands of jobs in the poultry industry and its value chain.
This view has been supported by Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel, who told parliament that the tariffs would stay because to remove them would destroy jobs.
The tariff proposal was a non-starter, based on questionable calculations, and importers should not be surprised that they have lost.
We hope they will continue to support our campaign for VAT-free chicken, which is sensible, practical and targeted at poor households.
