<Anchor> The
government will reduce the fuel tax by 10% from today (1st).
In terms of gasoline, it is 83 won cheaper per liter, but not all gas stations are lowering the price at the same time.
Reporter Han Sang-woo reported.
<Reporter>
On the first day of the 30% fuel tax cut, gas stations also appeared, where the price of gasoline per liter dropped to around 1,800 won.
As the fuel tax cut was expanded by 10%p more from 20% to 30%, the price of gasoline went down by 83 won per liter.
Diesel, which is less taxed than gasoline, is about 58 won cheaper.
However, the only places where the price has been reduced like this are gas stations directly operated by refiners.
Self-employed gas stations are likely to be able to cut prices only a week or two after they run out of oil they have previously received.
[Kim Jong-jin / Yangcheon-gu, Seoul: I heard that the (fuel tax) would be lowered, but because there is a difference (price) between a directly managed store and a non-directly managed store, we do not know whether it is a directly managed store or not.
I think there should be a notice or something like that in advance.]
Despite the tax cut, energy prices such as oil and gas have jumped sharply, causing domestic prices to rise, and even the trade balance is shaking.
In fact, last month's exports rose 12.6% from the same month last year to $57.69 billion, the highest ever recorded in April, but imports increased more steeply, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.66 billion.
The deficit widened for two months in a row, and as well as energy, grain and mineral prices rose, the total imports increased.
Concerns are growing that the trade deficit will not end in a short period of time as international raw material prices are expected to continue to rise as China's coronavirus lockdown is added to the Ukraine crisis.
(Video coverage: Kim Won-bae, Video editing: Lee Seung-yeol)