On Thursday, the Saeima referred to the budget and finance committee the initiative of the opposition National Alliance to introduce a tax rate of 30% on goods from high-risk countries, primarily Russia, and goods that enter Latvia through risky supply chains.
As previously stated by the National Alliance, the party calls for the introduction of an "economic security tax" to reduce Latvia's economic dependence on Russia while simultaneously providing additional funding for state security.
To implement this tax, the party has developed a new law on the economic security tax, as well as corresponding amendments to the corporate income tax law and the law on taxes and duties.
The proposals from the National Alliance stipulate that the tax will apply to several groups of goods, including food raw materials, mineral products, animal feed, metal products, and products from the chemical and textile industries.
The party stated that despite the ongoing war of Russia against Ukraine, goods of Russian origin continue to enter Latvia directly or through intermediary countries, thereby indirectly replenishing the budget of the aggressor state. According to the party, such a situation is unacceptable both from a security and a moral standpoint.
National Alliance MP Arturs Butans pointed out that many Latvian enterprises have ceased operations in Russia, forgoing profits due to their stance, and are now in an unequal competitive position with those who continue to cooperate with the aggressor state.
