Cambodia Rice News: World Rice News: Burma Traders Urge China to Reduce Import Tariffs on Rice Imports

Burma Traders Urge China to Reduce Import Tariffs on Rice Imports

Rice traders in Burma have urged China to roll-back the steep hike in rice import tariffs on Burmese rice, saying the move has hurt their profits while encouraging smuggling of rice across borders into China.

Local traders in Burma say that China has increased the rice import tariffs to 65% after the change in government in Burma. They add that China has also made it difficult for rice traders in China to avail loans to trade with Burma.

Meanwhile, smuggled Burmese rice into China is on the rise, reportedly at around 2,500 tons of rice every day. Traders involved in such illegal exports say that smuggling results in losses to Burmese rice traders because they have to sell their rice to Chinese farmers across the border at low prices. Burmese traders say that while the Burmese government has removed taxes on export of rice to promote exports, they are unable to benefit from the move.

Burma’s Minister for Commerce says that China has placed barriers on rice trade with Burma because Burma rice is considered low quality by World Trade Organization standards. “However, we will ask Chinese government representatives to reconsider this position and reduce export fees,” he said.

Source: Oryza/31July2012

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