The Government has further reduced import taxes on rice. The LKR 5 (USD 0.03) import tax set in January 2017 (FPMA Food Policies) was cut to LKR 0.25 (USD 0.002) and it will remain in place until 31 December. Taxes on wheat flour imports were also reduced from LKR 25 (USD 0.16) to LKR 15 (USD 0.1) per kg and taxes on wheat grain from LKR 9 (USD 0.06) to LKR 6 (USD 0.04). Maize, used for feed, will be subject to a new LKR 10 (USD 0.06) special commodity levy, replacing previous taxes amounting to more than LKR 60 (USD 0.39) per kg. Taxes on imported fresh fish were also reduced for a period of three months. The measures aim at curbing high prices, particularly of rice, which in July averaged 20 percent above their year-earlier levels underpinned by anticipation of a significant decline in the 2017 aggregate rice output, due to a severe drought in late 2016 and early 2017 (FPMA Domestic Price Warning).