Foreign used car dealers are concerned that the upcoming budget will contain severe measures that could lead to the closure of the industry.
Visham Babwah, president of the T&T Automotive Dealers Association (TTADA), said dealers are currently allowed to import six year old cars.
He said if that is lowered to five, four or three year old, that could be the death knell for the industry as many car dealers will not be able to compete.
Babwah said changes to the tax structure will also be deterimental to the industry.
The TTADA president complained the the used car industry is being infairly blamed for contributing to traffic congestion, although personal importers brought in more vehicles than used car dealers and new car dealers combined. He said current government policy allowed for anyone over the age of 18 to apply to import a vehicle and this has contributed to congestion as well as the emergence of con-men who operate as dealers.
Babwah said the combined sales of used cars by registered dealers amounted to around 10,000 vehicles annually. He said the industry directly and indirectly affected approximately 25,000 persons who made a livelihood from selling cars as well as providing after sales services and consumable products to vehicle owners.