ISLAMABAD, May 26: The East African Union Countries (EAC) — Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have extended for another two years the old rate of customs duty of 35 per cent on import of rice. An official announcement issued here on Thursday by commerce ministry said that Pakistani rice exporters could export rice to the EAC at the old rates for next two years after which the decision would be reviewed.

The EAC had earlier introduced additional tax of 40 per cent on import of rice, which had put Pakistani rice at disadvantageous position in the EAC market. Pakistan High Commissioner Syed Zahid Hussain in Nairobi, has informed the ministry that EAC had decided to keep Customs duty rates on import of rice at the 35per cent for another two years. The decision was taken in the meeting of EAC Finance Ministers held in Arusha, Tanzania on May 14, 2005, added the announcement.