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.