Vietnam to waive import tariffs on medical masks and materials

Materials for medical face mask production, disinfection water are in short supply, Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai said during at Wednesday's government press briefing.

Beside materials for making masks, liquid hand wash is also in shortage at the moment. She suggested scrapping import duties on those products that enhance Vietnam’s capability in combating the new coronavirus epidemic.

Face mask prices have been soaring across the country and drugstores are running out of supply as people seek protection from the virus, which has so far infected 10 people in the country. Three of them have been declared healthy and discharged from hospital.

Local mask producers are suffering a severe shortage of materials for production as demand suddenly increased while demand for export also increased. Last month, the country exported nearly 4 million masks to China, according to report from customs department.

Mask manufacturers are running at full capacity but are struggling to source feedstock since China has banned exports as it seeks to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Data updated by the Ministry of Health Thursday afternoon shows that the epidemic was reported in 27 countries and territories with the total number of infected cases reaching 28,281, including over 28,023 in mainland China. The deadly virus killed 565 people, including 563 in China, and two outside the country.

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Source: VIR