Editing Vanuatu (section)

=== Mining ===
Although [[manganese]] mining halted in {{Circa|1980}},<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mourgues |first=Adrien |date=February 2005 |title=State of Environment Report |url=https://www.pacific-r2r.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/State%20of%20Environment%20Report%20-%20VanuatuSoE-Vanuatu.pdf |journal=Pacific R2R |location=Port Vila, Vanuatu}}</ref> there was an agreement in 2006 to export manganese already mined but not yet exported.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-03-06 |title=Vanuatu says manganese exports a breakthrough for mining |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/160706/vanuatu-says-manganese-exports-a-breakthrough-for-mining |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> The country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light-industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from [[Tariff|import duties]] and a 15% [[Value Added Tax|VAT]] on goods and services.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Introduction to VAT Value Added Tax |url=https://vanuatucustoms.gov.vu/images/Brochures/IRD/eng/Introduction_to_VAT_21.pdf |journal=Customs and Inland Revenue |location=Port Vila, Vanuatu}}</ref> The country's economic development has been suspected to be hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances between constituent islands and from main markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vanuatu |url=https://www.economy.com/vanuatu/indicators |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Moody's Analytics |at=Economy; Economic Indicators}}</ref>