Exclusive-Peru's finance chief says mining taxes can rise without affecting competitiveness

Peru's Finance Minister Pedro Francke gestures during an interview with Reuters in Lima, Peru, August 9, 2021. REUTERS/Angela Ponce

LIMA (Reuters) -Peru's finance minister, Pedro Francke, told Reuters on Monday that the new leftist government can increase mining taxes to fund public spending without affecting private-sector competitiveness, all while reducing the fiscal deficit.

Peru, the world's No. 2 copper producer, is highly dependent on mining taxes and new President Pedro Castillo has promised to deliver more social programs to lift the country's poor.