Page 27 - IRANRptSep20

EEU countries scrap tariffs on 10 Iranian export categories under temporary PTA
among Iranians reluctant to dramatically raise dependence on China, while the US Trump administration would be nervous as to how much such a strategic partnership could undermine its “maximum pressure” campaign directed at scaling back Tehran’s influence in Middle East affairs.
Both Iran and China are nations opposed to US global leadership and share an interest in limiting Washington’s influence in the Middle East, though the Chinese might not move to sign any huge deal with the Iranians until it is clear that the prospect of a satisfactory US-China trade deal is off the table.
The five nations that form the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) have removed tariffs on 10 categories of exports from Iran as part of the two-year preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Tehran that commenced last October, according to an Iranian official cited by IRNA.
The temporary PTA between Iran and the trade bloc—which groups Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan—was the first such economic agreement signed by the Islamic Republic since it was founded in 1979. It is likely to turn into a fully-fledged economic and possibly, to an extent, political union if both sides keep to stick to the agreement and build on it. The accord applies preferential tariffs to 862 agricultural and industrial products, of which 502 are Iranian. Its tariffs vary, while some are eliminated altogether.
A member of the Mining and Trade Organization of Gilan Province in Iran, Mohammad Feyz, said the EEU said the tariff exemptions on the 10 additional items would remain in place until June 30 at least. He added that the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic was a consideration in extending the special tariff treatment.
The 10 product categories include “agricultural and food products” (potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbage, carrots, peppers, rye, long-grain rice, buckwheat, juices and prepared foods for baby food) and “selected finished medicines and medical supplies” (endoscopes, non-contact thermometers, disposable pipettes and mobile disinfection units).
Iran’s bilateral trade with the EEU has officially ​surpassed the $1bn​ m​ ark since the PTA was brought in, IRNA reported on February 9. Latest local reports indicate the figure presently stands at around $1.4bn.
Despite the​ ​prominence given​ to the PTA agreement by Iranian officials, Iran, for instance, still throttles imports of rice from EEU states during the summer months. The country is hugely protectionist towards its northern rice production. Any hint of competition to the limited production of rice in Iran would be seen as negative for the Rouhani administration.
Iran specifically bans the import of “semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or grazed” from July 23 to October 23 annually. However, during periods when it is not banned, there a PTA reduction of 42% on imports from the EEU to Iran applies. It remains to be seen how this limited import agreement will work in practice.
27​ IRAN Country Report September 2020 www.intellinews.com