Double-taxing at Customs?

Dear Editor,

I heard only a portion of a radio dialogue yesterday between Cliff Hughes and Commissioner of Customs Richard Reece regarding duties, etc, on imported items.

I heard — I trust incorrectly — that if you import an item, Customs personnel will ascertain the value/cost of the item and add applicable import duties to the cost, then determine General Consumption Tax on the cumulative sum. Can anyone explain to me why this is not unjust, being double taxation, without appealing to what other countries do?

Clinton Chisholm (Rev)

clintchis@yahoo.com