Jamaica's industry, investment and commerce minister Karl Samuda has defended the local cement market deregulation, saying that the government has a duty to protect consumers and ensure they have access to quality products at competitive rates, government information service J1S reported. Mr Samuda made the comments in response to issues surrounding the removal of the 15% common external tariff (CET) on imported cement. The duty was lifted in 2006 after problems arose with supplies from local manufacturer Caribbean Cement Company Limited (CCCL), the report said.
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