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Iran seeking preferential tariffs with Russia

Business Materials 17 February 2015 14:03 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 17

By Umid Niayesh - Trend:

Russia imposes high tariffs for imports which is a impeding seafood exports to the country, Hassan Salehi, head of the Iran 's Fisheries Organization (Shilat) said.

The official said that Iran has suggested implementation of preferential tariffs to Russia for boosting seafood exports, the country's official ISNA news agency reported Feb. 17.

Moscow imposes on average a 25 percent tariff on fisheries' imports, Salehi said, adding that exports to Russia would be more justified economically if the figure were decreased.

Salehi further said that Iran has exported its first trout consignment to Russia in recent days. The cargo including 100 metric tons of trout was exported to Russia for testing the country's market, he added that Iran has also exported 30 metric tons of shrimps, worth $300,000 to Russia so far.

Earlier Isa Golshahi, an official with Iran Fisheries Organization said that Iran would export about 30,000 metric tons of seafood to Russia in one year including 5000 metric tons of shrimp and 5-10 thousand metric tons of trout as well as 15,000 tons of other fish.

In August 2014, Moscow banned importing certain items from the western countries in response to economic sanctions imposed on Russia over its alleged role in escalating the Ukrainian crisis.

The ban, targeting meat, fish, poultry and milk products, nuts, fruits and vegetables, is expected to last for a year. Iran, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico have expressed their willingness to boost food exports to Russia .

During an official visit to Tehran by a high-ranking Russian delegation, the country officially requested that Iran increase its agricultural products and foodstuff exports to Moscow in order to meet the country's domestic demands.

Analysts believe that the western sanctions imposed on Russia, and Moscow 's self-imposed bans on importing western goods have created a great opportunity for Iranian goods to enter Russian market.

Edited by CN

Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh

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