3 Jan 2008
Reuters
HANOI: Vietnam has extended its suspension of duty on rice imported from neighbouring Cambodia until 2009, and will raise the tax-free limit by one-third to 200,000 tonnes next year, state media reported on Thursday.
Vietnam, the world's second-largest rice exporter after Thailand, would allow the duty-free import of 150,000 tonnes of Cambodian rice this year, the Saigon Giai Phong newspaper quoted the Industry and Trade Ministry as saying.
The ministry also permitted Vietnamese importers to buy 3,000 tonnes of dry tobacco from Cambodia a year without paying import duty, the newspaper said.
Both countries are members of the World Trade Organisation and many Vietnamese farmers work in Cambodian rice fields or buy the grain from there to offset a domestic shortfall during the period between crops.
Vietnam has allowed Cambodian rice to be imported without tax since 2006.
The purchases, which often take place in the last quarter of the year, help stablise Vietnam's grain prices and enable exporters to buy better-quality grain more easily.
Vietnam plans to export between 4.5 million tonnes and 5 million tonnes of rice this year after a 3 percent fall last year from 2006 to an estimated 4.5 million tonnes, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Vietnam, the world's second-largest rice exporter after Thailand, would allow the duty-free import of 150,000 tonnes of Cambodian rice this year, the Saigon Giai Phong newspaper quoted the Industry and Trade Ministry as saying.
The ministry also permitted Vietnamese importers to buy 3,000 tonnes of dry tobacco from Cambodia a year without paying import duty, the newspaper said.
Both countries are members of the World Trade Organisation and many Vietnamese farmers work in Cambodian rice fields or buy the grain from there to offset a domestic shortfall during the period between crops.
Vietnam has allowed Cambodian rice to be imported without tax since 2006.
The purchases, which often take place in the last quarter of the year, help stablise Vietnam's grain prices and enable exporters to buy better-quality grain more easily.
Vietnam plans to export between 4.5 million tonnes and 5 million tonnes of rice this year after a 3 percent fall last year from 2006 to an estimated 4.5 million tonnes, the Agriculture Ministry said.
3 comments:
May Cambodian Government take some measure against this policy, since Cambodia may suffer unforeseen food shortage due to drought or flood at the later beginning of rice growing season in May-August.
Be not just happy to transport rice to the nearby countries. We are a member of WTO, so we should learn to be smart by transporting our rice to Europe and America where we can sell our rice at a higher price. They buy our rice and sell our rice to the 3rd countries. Why can't we export directly? Please attract some investors for rice industry development and food supplies, rather than for just garment industries.
Learn not to be stupid anymore my silly Government and some ministers.
From a Khmer student in USA.
Who said that the Vietcong government is not interfering with Cambodian economy! Cambodia needs new economic model to serve Cambodian population in expanding opportunity and to reduce poverty!
AH HUN SEN shortsighted economic policies need to be abolished after 2008!
Hanoi claimed they are short of rice and need import from Hun Sen. But, Hanoi sells a lot of rice to the US and EU. It means their export is increasing 100%+. Ah Shit Hun Sen gives Hanoi rice for free and make less profit. Why Ah Hun Sen is so stupid? Let lost Ah Kwak....
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