Capping prices for basic foodstuffs will seriously distort the production and trade of these products, in the context in which the experience of the July 2023 Ordinance showed that, although the prices of the capped basic foods decreased, the measure generated price increases for other products, opinates Radu Burnete, head of the Concordia Employers' Confederation.
"Romania is a market economy, we do not understand how there can be a ceiling on all margins for thousands of Romanian products. On Monday, I agreed with the prime minister that we will have discussions to better understand where this idea comes from, after which we are announced, in prime-time, by the Minister of Agriculture, that the OUG is ready. Such a measure will seriously distort the production and trade of food. Hungary has taken similar measures and had to give up, because of the negative effects. So, when it is clear that our economic model is better, that we have surpassed them in recent years, why should we copy Hungary now? How do we think we will join the OECD, in 2026, if we take such measures? We should not even discuss such a thing," warned Burnete, in a point of view sent to AGERPRES on Friday.
According to the same source, even if the prices of basic foods capped by the July 2023 GEO decreased, the measure generated price increases for other products, without easing the daily basket and led to the distortion of the markets.
"Romania still has one of the highest inflation rates in the EU. We are continuing in the wrong direction," stated the representative of the employers' associations.
In this context, Concordia announces that it will request a new meeting from the Government, before such a measure with a major impact is adopted.
On Thursday evening, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Barbu, mentioned, in a post published on his Facebook page, that capping the markup for basic foods was the most correct decision to stop the excessive increase in prices and protect the power of purchase of the Romanians.
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