Import quotas for Thai rubber
China has imposed import quotas on Thai rubber at the Chiang Saen Customs Office in the northern province of Chiang Rai.
Patcharadit Sinsawat, head of the Chiang Saen Customs Office, said China also required an export licence under its restrictions. The value of rubber exports at the Customs Office dropped to Bt397.89 million in July from about Bt403 million in the same period last year. Rubber is one of the products listed under the Thai-Chinese Free-Trade Agreement's early-harvest programme. Despite zero import tariffs, China is able to impose any restrictions or quotas to protect its farmers and industries. "The Chinese government also sends officials to the port of Jinghong, where the shipment from Chiang Saen is taken. Thai goods are subjected to stringent inspection as well as a requirement for export documents," Patcharadit said. He added that some rubber exporters had switched from Chiang Saen to Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri. "The drop in rubber exports will cause Chiang Saen to miss its total export target of Bt8 billion this year," he said. Thailand has also had a decrease in imports from China. They decreased 11 per cent to Bt918.62 million in July from about Bt1 billion in the same period last year. However, Thailand maintains a Bt3.82-billion trade surplus over China. Thailand has implemented stricter inspections of quality and chemical residues of fresh fruits and vegetables imported from China.
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