France, Spain Seek Clarifications About Curtailed Exports To Algeria

On the eve of the official visit of French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve to Algeria, France has asked for clarifications from the Algerian authorities on the contents of the new import licenses, which will affect its regular exports to the Algerian market.

Although France confirmed that it “understands the situation,” it asked for more explanations about the file.
To this effect, the Minister of Industry and Mines Abdeslem Bouchouareb said: “The procedure is just circumstantial and stems from the country’s low external revenues and does not contradict the content of the partnership with the European Union, and our partners have to understand the current situation”.
Mr. Abdeslem  Bouchouareb said that the European Union has provided clarifications on import licenses imposed by the government on a number of products, including European goods entering the Algerian market, and that the latter does not contradict the EU partnership agreement currently under review.
The minister pointed out that the import licenses are transient and that Algeria has the right to protect its own economy in light of the difficult financial situation experienced by the national Public Treasury due to the slump of oil prices.
The minister stated, on the sidelines of the signing of a twinning agreement between the Ministry of Industry and the European Union, represented by Finland, France and Spain, that the Algerian government was forced to impose import licenses temporarily, in light of the special financial juncture  gripping the country as a result of declining incomes,  stressing that our European partners ought to respect the relevant Algerian authorities’ decision, which remains in conformity with the law, he underscored.
On the other hand, the Minister of Industry and Mines revealed that the authorized car dealers based in Algeria, who have invested in manufacturing factories such as Renault, Hyundai and Volkswagen, will produce spare parts locally and develop handling units, which he stressed will be included in the new book of specifications which is on the government’s table.
He added that the Algerian automobile  industry may encounter a number of hurdles initially due to the low integration rate, but the situation will change later on, especially as the factories will produce spare parts locally, which will turn Algeria from the stage of assembling into vehicle manufacturing.
In response to a question from “Echorouk” on the sidelines of the launch of the twinning, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Favre, Advisor to the French Embassy in Algeria, said that the French authorities asked for more clarifications from the Algerian government on the new import licensing system, which the Algerian government has expanded this year.
“We understand the situation and sometimes we have to be smart in dealing with each other, but that does not preclude asking for clarification on how to adopt these licenses and their contents”, he argued.
Concurrently, the Spanish Ambassador to Algeria, Mr. Alejandro Bolanco, also requested clarifications from the Algerian authorities on the ins and outs of the newly-introduced import licenses.
“We understand the constraining financial situation of Algeria and the authorities’ decision to impose import licenses, but we ask for the relevant procedure to be expounded more clearly,” he said.