Top official admits high fuel taxes, offers little hope

Santo Domingo.- Industryand Commerce minister José del Castillo on Monday admitted the country´s fuel taxesare among the world´s highest, and should be a topic discuss in next fiscalpact.

He said taxes and profitmargins on fuels, which together surpass 60 percent, circumvent significant fallsin local prices despite the collapse in global oil prices.

He acknowledged citizens´concerns and complaints against high local prices on oil derivatives, but notedthat taxes pay the foreign debt which he affirms dates back to the mid-1990s.