DUSHANBE, April 11, 2011, Asia-Plus — Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned over rise in Tajikistan’s transit duty, Afghanistan.ru reports.
Tajikistan has reportedly raised transit duty for cargo bound for Afghanistan. The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry says Tajikistan raised transit duty for one ton of cargo on average by US$6.00 at the end of last week.
“Unfortunately, Tajikistan unilaterally raised its transit duty rates by 60 percent three days ago,” Mohammad Qurabn Haqjou, head of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told reporters today.
The Afghan Lemar TV reports Afghanistan-bound commodities from Russia, Ukraine, China and some Central Asia’s countries traditionally transit through Tajik territory and the transit duty rise issue has been discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Afghan media outlets note that Tajikistan becomes the third country, after Pakistan and Iran, which creates serious problems for transit of Afghanistan-bound cargo.
