The Norwegian government has granted Generalized System of Preference (GSP) to Ethiopia, allowing the country's products to enjoy tax exemption on entering the Norwegian market, according to The Reporter.

Cecilie G.Alnaes, assistant director at the Directorate of Norwegian Customs and Excise, told The Reporter that, the scheme will allow Ethiopian products to join the Norwegian market without any discrimination.

The GSP scheme extended by the Norwegian government has no limitation period, and will continue until Ethiopia joins the level of the developed nations, according to Cecilie G.Alnaes.

The Generalized System of Preference scheme allows industrialized countries to unilaterally grant preferential tariff treatment to products from developing countries.

The total trade turnover between the two countries was only US$ 58 million in 2012, and imports from Norway declined from US$ 4.2 million in 2004 to US$ 2.7 million in 2012.

Ethiopia's major export items to the Norwegian market include cut flowers, coffee, honey and sugar.

Source: The Reporter