Seven MPs in Vanautu's Santo Rural constituency have asked the government to re-think a bill that would tax raw copra exports.
The Daily Post reports the MPs, whose constituents are dependent on copra for their livelihood, wrote a letter to the trade minister, Daniel Toara, saying the bill discourages competition on the price of copra and will hurt farmers.
Copra buyers on Santo are buying copra at 460 US dollars a tonne, without the government subsidy, a price which is embraced by the farmers.
The MPs say the proposed law would tax copra, cocoa and some cash crops, affecting buyers as well as local and foreign companies operating in Sanma province and Luganville.
They say Sanma province is a major contributor to Vanuatu's economy and if the bill cannot be justified then the ministry should do away with it.
