THE STANDARD
BUSINESS
Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) for the National Treasury and Planning Nelson Gaichuhie. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]
The National Treasury has made a U-turn on its plan to increase taxes on imported furniture, measures aimed at growing local industries.
Treasury had last year said it supported a Bill to amend the Excise Duty Act and impose a 30 per cent excise tax on imported furniture.
The Bill by Kiambu MP Jude Njomo is expected to promote the local furniture industry.
In its submission to Parliament last October, Treasury had argued that as long as the Bill protected domestic products, it would support it. It has since changed tune, saying import duty charged on furniture entering the country was enough to protect the local operators.