Tariff hike squeezes struggling Lebanese as reforms stall

Caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam gestures during an interview with Reuters in Beirut, Lebanon December 9, 2022. REUTERS/Emilie Madi

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Every time a part of his old grey Mercedes breaks, 62-year-old Beirut cab driver Abed Omayraat faces a tough choice: go into debt to import an expensive car part, or raise fares for customers whose wallets are already drained by a severe economic crisis.

It's a dilemma he says has become more acute in recent months as Lebanon's government moved to increase tariffs on imported goods about ten-fold in a country that ships in more than 80% of what it consumes - including spare parts he needs.