Import of Consumer Goods from the U.S. to Be Halted 'Through an Executive Directive'

Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Iran's Minister of Industry, states that following Ayatollah Khamenei's letter regarding the requirements for implementing the JCPOA, the halt of consumer goods imports from the U.S. 'will be executed through a directive.' The Iranian leader, in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani dated October 21, emphasized his views and requirements for the implementation of the nuclear agreement, including the 'comprehensive pursuit of a resilient economy' and 'strengthening domestic production,' and called for ensuring that 'the situation after the lifting of sanctions does not lead to excessive imports.' Khamenei further stressed that in the post-sanctions era, 'especially any import of consumer goods from the U.S. should be strictly avoided.' Now, news agencies report that, according to the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, his ministry will implement the requirements related to 'national production, empowerment, resilient economy, and preventing the import of American consumer goods' through an executive directive. Before Nematzadeh's remarks, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, stated on Tuesday, November 5, that 'the prohibited items in the export and import law are specified, and the only country from which we were not allowed to import was the occupying regime, and there was no legal prohibition regarding American goods.' He added that part of the imported items from the U.S. includes 'technological imports,' which, according to him, 'can be carried out.' Following this, on Friday, the ISNA news agency reported on the volume of exports to the U.S. and imports from this country, stating that in the first six months of this year, the U.S. sold $37 million worth of goods to Iran while importing $418,000 worth of Iranian goods. From food items to cosmetic products, according to ISNA's report, from 2011 to 2014, Iran purchased goods from the United States amounting to $100 million, $132 million, $132 million, and $154 million, respectively. ISNA notes that the list of goods exported from the U.S. to Iran varies slightly from year to year. Although a significant portion of Iran's imports from this country pertains to 'intermediate and capital goods needed for various sectors of industry, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, and mining,' consumer goods are also imported from this country. According to ISNA, in 2012, imported American consumer goods included butter, salmon, pineapple juice, dietary and medicinal supplements for humans, cosmetic products for lips, eyes, and nails, makeup powders, shampoo, nails, jet skis, carousels, and circus swings and makeup brushes. However, in 2014, Iran imported goods from the U.S. such as dairy cows, butter, rice, various cooking oils, dietary and medicinal supplements, perfumes, cosmetics and beauty products, shampoo, dental floss, nails, manicure and pedicure tools, refrigerators, freezers, computers, tablets, keyboards, lamps, and toothbrushes. This trend of consumer goods imports has changed somewhat in the first half of this year, and the list of imported goods to Iran now mainly includes dietary supplements, cosmetic products, play dough, pipes and hoses, tablets, computers, jet skis, treadmills, and some other sports equipment.