MP Tadevos Avetisyan from the Hayastan opposition faction has raised concerns over Turkish tomato imports during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, stating they pose a serious competitive threat to local producers.
“You know that Turkish tomatoes are being imported to Armenia. Based on my research, Turkish agriculture receives roughly 2 to 2.5 times more state support. When their greenhouse tomatoes hit the market, they will undoubtedly pressure our domestic growers,” he said, according to Panorama.am .
Avetisyan argued that market distortions exist and government regulation is not only necessary but long overdue.
In the same committee session, Civil Contract MP Narek Ghahramanyan proposed amending the Law on State Duties to increase import taxes on steel rebar from 20-fold to 50-fold. He cited Iranian subsidies that make Iranian steel significantly cheaper than domestic products.
Deputy Economy Minister Edgar Ghazaryan supported raising the duty to 45-fold, citing Iran’s gas subsidy policy and import calculations.
Avetisyan countered, arguing that while the government protects consumers, it fails to support domestic producers, which would naturally reduce prices in a competitive market. He questioned why the state intervenes in the steel sector but ignores similar issues in agriculture.
“I hope geopolitics isn't involved — like, we’re upset with one country so we help it, and this one’s a friend so we ignore the impact,” Avetisyan remarked.
In response, Committee Chair Babken Tunyan recalled how Turkish tomatoes were once re-exported to Russia under the label of Armenian produce, whereas today genuine Armenian tomatoes are being exported.
