Prices in Lebanon are increasing after the parliament passed the tax law, while Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil says 87% of the taxes do not affect the poor.
He says many products and services are exempt from the 1% raise to the VAT.
These include medical services and hospital costs, NSSF, banking and financial services, public transportation and cabs, selling and renting residential estate, agricultural works and delivery of crops, livestock, poultry, fish and agricultural materials, bread, wheat, meats, milk, dairy products, rice, groats, sugar, salt, vegetable oils, pasta, babies’ food products, books, newspapers and magazines, stamps, gas for domestic use, seeds and agricultural fertilizers, and farming vehicles, medicine and pharmaceutical products (including contraception products, condoms, sanitary pads, diapers), medical equipment and tools, precious stones and metals, money and even boats and aerial transport for people and cargo.
For more details, watch the full report in the video above