Import duty hike will punish J’can consumers – economists

KINGSTON, Jamaica - A LEADING economist says Jamaicans would be punished with higher prices if the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association (JMA) is able to successfully lobby the Government to increase import duties to protect local markets. "You have to realise that the JMA sector and ... consuming Jamaicans have diametrically opposed interests. If the JMA gets its way, you pay more to live," Dr Damien King said at a Gleaner Editors' Forum on Wednesday. "You are going to pay more for orange juice, you are going to pay more for mattresses, you are going to pay more for everything that they want to raise an import tariff to protect," King added.