People shop at a supermarket in Goyang, South Korea, July 9, 2022. South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
SEOUL, July 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
No tariff will be imposed on seven more imported foodstuffs including beef and chicken later this month.
Subject to the zero tariffs will be 100,000 tons of beef, 82,500 tons of chicken, 10,000 tons of powdered milk, 30,000 tons of pork belly and 448 tons of green onion, as well as coffee beans and ethanol materials.
The government lifted import duties on 26 major industry and food items, such as cooking il, pork and liquified natural gas (LNG), earlier this year.
The expanded zero-tariff imports came as the country's headline inflation surged this year on the continued global supply chain disruptions and the prolonged geopolitical risks in Europe.
South Korea's consumer prices soared 6 percent in June from a year earlier, marking the fastest growth in nearly 24 years. ■
People shop at a supermarket in Goyang, South Korea, July 9, 2022. South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
Photo taken on July 9, 2022 shows frozen cheese balls at a supermarket in Goyang, South Korea. South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
People shop at a supermarket in Goyang, South Korea, July 9, 2022. South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
A customer shops at a supermarket in Goyang, South Korea, July 9, 2022. South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)
People have meals in a restaurant in Goyang, South Korea, July 9, 2022. South Korea decided to increase tariff-free import items as part of efforts to counter surging inflation on Friday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)