The Parliament's Finance and Budget Committee on Monday suspended an article in the draft 2019 state budget that imposes a 2 percent tax on most imports, requiring that it would be re-drafted to include the lawmakers' suggestion to exempt daily-use goods.

Article 63, as approved by the government, proposes a tax hike that affects all goods, except medications.

While Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil claimed that the measure is aimed at protecting national industries, Gemayel rejected the argument, noting that there are several goods that are not produced in Lebanon in the first place.