Kazakhstan asks France to assist in lift export restrictions

/IRBIS, Oct.5, 00/ - REUTERS informs, with the reference to the deputy minister of foreign affairs, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, that Kazakhstan asked France, since it is a chairman in European Union, for assisting in lifting the export restrictions on the Kazakhstani steel and ferrosilicon onto the European market. He said that France has agreed to assist in this matter within its authorities. Deputy minister said that Kazakhstan wanted to increase steel exports to the European union countries up to 300 th. tons from current 80 th. tons, as well as lifting antidumping duties on ferrosilicon. He said that the quota was on 80 th. tons of steel, though the Ispat-Karmet itself (metallurgical company in Karagandy) can produce more than 4.5 mln tons and export part of it. It is said that Kazakhstani-French working group on economic cooperation that discussed these matters is continuing its work in Kazakhstan. State secretary of France on external trade said that France would assist in increasing the quota on steel supplies and stopping the antidumping investigation on ferrosilicon matters. Statistics agency informs that during January-August 2000 Kazakhstan produced 85 th. tons of ferrosilicon, while last year it reached 140.2 th. tons.