A draft of the Economic and Financial Document (DEF showed that VAT hikes under fiscal safeguard clauses will remain intact for the next two years after being frozen for this year. The 10% reduced VAT rate will rise to 11.5% from January 1, 2019, and to 13% from January 1, 2020. The ordinary VAT rate of 22% will rise to 24.2% from January 1, 2019, and to 24.9% from January 1, 2020, and to 25% from January 1, 2012. The economy ministry had already clarified that this year’s DEF will not indicate possible economic policy moves.