Taiwan's cabinet-level Tax Reform Committee approved Monday a plan to impose new taxes on energy and carbon-dioxide emissions that could generate 437 billion Taiwan dollars (13.6 billion US dollars) in tax revenue by the 10th year the taxes are levied, a senior official said.
"We will first levy taxes on sources of energy such as fossil fuels and carbon-dioxide emissions and we expect the plan to start from 2011," said Vice Finance Minister Chang Sheng-ford at a news conference.
For other energy and emissions taxes, including those on soil, water, air and sea pollution, Chang said the imposition would be made only when there is a general consensus between the public and the government. Chang said the plan, which still needs review and approval by parliament, is part of the energy policy proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou to reduce pollution in Taiwan and encourage green energy - a promise made by Ma during his presidential election campaign.
He said future tax revenues would be spent on low-income families and public transport. But ruling Nationalist Party parliamentarian Lai Shyi-bao Monday said the imposition would sharply increase local electricity prices and draw protests from the public.
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