News
Four Months of Duty Free Foods as of August 1st for Turks and Caicos
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, August 4, 2022 – Ahead of the August 1st activation of a new Duty Free policy, Turks and Caicos grocery stores reported they had started to markdown items in accordance with the latest economic injection by the Government.
The Price Inflation Stimulus is intended to dramatically decrease the 38 percent surge in food costs for the British overseas territory.
As of Monday August first a substantial list of basic items on TCI supermarket shelves were made duty free by way of the stimulus and so far at least two supermarkets have advertised the markdowns on the items.
Graceway Supermarkets has announced that while they may take some time to update price lists the discounts will be available at the checkout counter immediately.
Sam’s Club has also advertised the discount in addition to the three percent the supermarket cuts at checkout due to the government’s March concession on the Customs Processing Fee; it is three percent less.
The duty free list was announced by deputy premier E.Jay Saunders in the House of Assembly and includes:
- Rice
- Flour
- Grits
- Bread
- Spaghetti and Instant noodles
- Macaroni and Cheese dinners
- Cornflakes and Cereals
- Chicken
- Canned Sausages
- Fresh and Canned meat
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Evaporated Milk
- Cooking oil
- Sugar
- Fruit
- Baby Food
- Water
- Cleaning Supplies including: gloves bleach alcohol Lysol
- Face masks
- Disinfectants including: bleach hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps
- Adult and Baby Diapers
And
- Protein shakes
The duty free provision is in effect for four months from August 1st to November 30th.
Residents are also free to import these foods on their own and enjoy the same discounts and a raised personal exemption of $200 on all purchases abroad; now residents can bring in $600 in unchecked goods.