ArmenPress
Jan 19 2005
ARMENIA EXPLORES WAYS FOR FREE TRADE REGIME WITH IRAN AND LEBANON
YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenian trade and economic
ministry is exploring trade relations with Iran and Lebanon in an
effort to prepare soil for signing free trade agreements. Garegin
Melkonian, head of a trade and economic development ministry
department, overseeing foreign economic policy, told Armenpress that
Iran’s system of foreign trade regulation differs from that of
Armenia, the major difference is that unlike Iran Armenia is a member
of World Trade Organization (WTO) and its relevant legislation is in
conformity with international standards.
He said Iran’s legislation is fundamentally different from those
of WTO member-countries. Thus, Armenian companies engaged in imports,
pay customs fees and VAT, while Iranian companies pay a low customs
fee and charge also trade profit, which is very high. Unlike in
Armenia, foreign trade in Iran is supervised by the government, one
of the major obstacles to establishing free trade regime with Tehran.
Concerning Lebanon, he said there are no major difficulties. The
existing ones refer to customs fee tariffs. Armenia so far has free
trade agreements with CIS members only.