ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: The Kenyan government has waived common external tariff (CET) on 350 containers with consignments of Pakistani rice held up at the Mombassa port.

An official announcement issued here on Tuesday said that the Kenyan High Commission in Islamabad had informed the commerce ministry that Kenya had withdrawn CET on Pakistani rice which had stockpiled at the port of Mombassa.

According to the decision, Pakistani rice arriving or held up at the port would be cleared at the pre-CET rate of 35 per cent between now and March 15, 2005. The Kenyan government has also waived the customs warehouse rent for rice and other goods awaiting clearance.

According to the announcement, the Kenyan government was negotiating with the government of Pakistan for a long-term solution of the CET on rice and other products. Pakistan and Kenya wish to maintain and deepen the current trade relations. Due to the imposition of CET at the rate of 75 per cent effective from January 1, 2005, 350 containers with Pakistani rice were held up at Kenyan ports.