ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: The government will soon convene a high-level meeting of stakeholders to finalize retaliatory measures for reducing the impact of raise in duty on import of rice in three East African countries - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan told Dawn on Wednesday that during the meeting some options would be considered for countering the increase in duty, which is expected to would have a negative impact on Pakistan's export of rice to these countries.

Answering a question, the minister said that 200 rice containers of Pakistani exporters were awaiting clearance at ports of these countries. He said Pakistan had already requested these countries to release the containers on old import duty rates.

Pakistan is the biggest tea importer from Kenya and the current decision might harm the import of the commodity from Kenya. The minister said that during the visit of the commerce minister of Kenya to the Expo 2005, the issue was also raised with him for early consideration.

"We are also looking for other sources to import tea in case these countries do not revise the duty on rice to the earlier one," the minister said.

The three east African countries have raised the customs duty from 35 per cent to 75 per cent on January 15 on import of rice.