Minister Finds Accession to WTO in Favor of Industrialists
Referring to WTO membership as inevitable, he said, "Government has currently 19 projects underway to block the possible harmful consequences of joining WTO and the state outlook should certainly be respected in this respect." He said that currently Iranian goods have to incur an additional 50 percent tariff in order to be exported to a country such as Tajikistan, while the products of the WTO member states are presented in Tajikistan at a lower tariff.
Shariatmadari assured Iranian industrialists that the Memorandum of Understanding on Iran's accession to WTO will be drawn up in such a way that its negative effect on the current production capacity will be avoided.
Concerning the tariffs of imported goods, he said, "All tariffs have been drawn up under the supervision of authorities from ministry of industries and mines and an office has been established to receive and examine the producers' complaints in this respect." He added that the government has been assigned with such a task by the parliament and that the three ministries of finance and economic affairs, commerce as well as industries and mines have been charged with it.
He said if any tariff increase or reduction is found to be effective in boosting production, the authorities in charge will see to it immediately.
Regarding the status of industries, he said that Iran's industry is in need of a drastic change and that the government's support should be oriented towards set goals.
He called for the transparent, reasonable and timely support of the government.
Recalling that the trade law currently in force in the country is outdated and that it should be revised and reformed, he said that a bill, which has been drawn up on the basis of the nation's current requirements, will soon be submitted to the parliament.