Business-government dispute continues over customs practices

TIRANA, May.30- That reference prices have become a means of discriminating and abusing import businesses, has been alleged by some businesses. Documents proving that customs officials are favoring some companies at the expense of others have been given to some Albanian media. The most recent case pertains to the customs fees placed on some electric appliances imported from China at the ports of Durres and Tirana. The first office had requested $80 for one unit while the second one had only charged $15-20 per unit, depending on the bill of sales offered by the company.
The managers of the firm that had tried to pass the goods from the Durres port have officially complained o the General Directory of Customs, as well as sent a note to Prime Minister Berisha. Hence the selective discrimination practices have been judged abusive and favoring monopolies that have alleged political protection. The director of Customs, P쳰arim Dervishi, has refused to meet with complaining businesses after customs officials transferred the goods to the Tirana office where they have been stored for more than three months.
A month earlier, the general directory sent an order to pass the goods, then at a reference price of $40 per unit, which in fact makes the trade of the goods impossible since the market price is only $35. The import businesses accuse the administration of protecting a rival company through selective discriminatory prices.