5% chopstick tax introduced to save Chinese forests
China is to introduce a chopstick tax of 5 per cent in a move to preserve its forests. The move follows a promise by China’s Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to help the environment and redistribute wealth. China uses around two million cubic metres of wood a year to produce around 15 billion pairs of chopsticks. Taxes on luxury good such as yachts, golf clubs and gas-guzzling cars will also be increased by between five and 20 per cent.
