Iran Bans Foreign Handicrafts Import

The Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade has added foreign handicrafts to the list of banned imports upon the request of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.
"Imported handicrafts, mostly from Turkey, India and China, have disrupted the business of domestic producers," Pouya Mahmoudian, ICHHTO's deputy for Handicrafts and Traditional Arts, was quoted as saying by IRNA.
"The decision was made following two months of negotiations with the Trade Promotion Organization, the Ministry of Industries and Iran Customs Administration," she said, adding that the directive has been communicated to all customs offices across the country.