ASEAN: Lift agricultural restrictions

ASEAN: Lift agricultural restrictions

PHNOM PENH (Reuters): Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) agriculture ministers on Friday called on the
international community to lift restrictions on agricultural
products from the group's 10 member countries.

"We ASEAN agriculture ministers have agreed that we will call
on countries not to impose barriers or restrictions on
agricultural products from ASEAN countries," Cambodian
Agriculture Minister Chhea Song told reporters after a meeting in
Phnom Penh.

"Countries that impose restrictions on ASEAN countries should
reconsider their position."

The group said in a statement there were restrictions on fruit
and unfair tariffs on canned tuna from ASEAN countries.

"The ministers agreed that ASEAN would continue to actively
address issues of interest in international agricultural trade in
the various international fora and particularly express deep
concern over the continuing restriction on tropical fresh fruits
and discriminatory tariffs on ASEAN canned tuna," it said.

Chhea Song said: "ASEAN countries produce a lot of
agricultural products... When a country imposes restrictions on
us, we have no market."

Chhea Song also said Cambodia will host the first meeting of
agriculture ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) plus China, South Korea and Japan in April next
year.

"Next year we will host the AMAF (ASEAN ministers on
agriculture and forestry) plus three forum in (the northern town
of Siem Reap)," he said.