The Association for the Fight against the Rentier Economy (Alert) on Thursday called on the Ministry of Trade to "quickly" reverse its recent measures to cap the prices of certain consumer goods, describing them as "electoral" measures that risk having "another devastating impact" on Tunisians' food security. These decisions will only lead to a further decline in investment and production. For Alert, the real problem facing the sector today is the lack of supply. Alert explains that "the import of certain raw materials, such as sugar, which is monopolised by a minority that controls state structures, and the complexity of the national import system are currently behind the shortage of several industrial products and the rise in their prices". As long as the system of rentier economy continues to operate (through the administrative machinery), the purchasing power of citizens will never improve," Alert insists. In this context, the association stressed the need to respect the principle of supply and deman d, believing that such "administrative" decisions threaten small producers and give large groups more control over the market. "This is likely to lead to an increase in prices and a slowdown in growth, as was the case this year," the same source added, calling for the promotion of fair competition between the various players and the creation of a favourable climate for investment and production. Alert pointed out that small producers are the only weak links who will have to bear the consequences of these "arbitrary" decisions, as farmers will be forced to reduce the prices of some of their products, which will damage the production system. It stressed that "certain measures taken in the past, in particular those relating to the capping of banana prices and the closure of unclassified bakeries, have already demonstrated their failure and their disastrous impact on supply." Those were at the root of the increase and shortage of certain products. The Ministry of Trade on Wednesday announced a series of measu res aimed at limiting the prices of certain consumer goods. It decided to freeze the prices of a range of everyday consumer goods, including food, biscuits, confectionery, fizzy drinks, juices, dairy products, cleaning products, personal care items and building materials It has also decided to limit commercial cooperation fees between distributors and suppliers to between 5% and 10% of turnover, depending on the product pricing system (regulated or free), and to set a maximum price for the sale of eggs to the general public at 1,400 milligrams for four eggs, while maintaining the profit margins for wholesalers and retailers at the current level (15 milligrams per egg). Other measures include a 14% reduction in the selling price of concrete reinforcing bars and a ban on the marketing of types and diameters not included in the current price list until manufacturers obtain administrative approval for their prices. These measures are aimed at improving the purchasing power of citizens, according to the Ministry . Source: EN - Agence Tunis Afrique Presse