Pakistan News and Discussion-8

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Pakistan News and Discussion-8

Naresh
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Joined: Nov 2004

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#122

10-06-2006, 03:38 AM (This post was last modified: 10-06-2006, 03:38 AM by Naresh.)

After the Rice mit mice schidt mixt it is DÃ©jÃ Vu all over again for Pakistani Rice

[center]Iran bans Pak rice <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Flush.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='Flush.gif' />[/center]

LAHORE â The Iranian government has imposed a complete ban on Pakistani rice Thursday following the substantial increase in customs duties on various products before endorsement of the preferential trade agreement, it is learnt.

However, the officials were unaware of the move but said that the step had almost been neutralising the accord for Pakistani rice.

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan officials were not available for the comments, however, the secretary of the association, Taimur Gill confirmed reports by saying that he would be in a position to give details after contacting the Iranian officials.

However, sources said that the Iranian government had earlier enhanced the tariff on import of rice through border area cooperatives to about 70 per cent from 4 per cent, making Pakistani rice more expensive in Iranian market as most of Pakistani rice is exported to Iran through border area co-operatives.

Sources further said that Pakistan and Iran had notified reduction in customs duty on 772 items to be imported under the PTA, which became effective from September 1, 2006. The two countries had already finalised and ratified the rules of origin and other instruments of the agreement.

The sources said that Iran had raised the tariff without informing the contracting partnerâPakistan. It would substantially reduce the margin of preferences for Pakistani products like kinno and rice etc under the PTA.
According to a comparison of revised import tariffs of Iran on main items of Pakistanâs interest till March 2007, the duty is for import of rice by private sector.

Iranian total rice imports amount to only 650,000 tons per annum and over 350,000 tons has already entered the country since the Iranian New Year. Iran has inked an agreement with Pakistan for buying 40,000 tons of rice from Pakistan has also floated a tender for buying 30,000 tons of Basmati rice, sources further added.

Earlier, the Mexican government to withdraw, the ban was imposed on import of all kinds of rice from Pakistan around six years ago.

The Mexican government had imposed a ban on import of all kinds of rice on the plea that the Pakistani rice carried a fungus named Kapra Beetle, which was not suitable for consumption on health reasons.

The officials, however, said the fungus is only carried in grains and not in rice but again it led to complete suspension of export of rice to the Mexican market.

The Pakistani government has earmarked to export total rice to the tune of US$ 1,224 million for the year 2006-07.

Cheers <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' />