In an effort by the local government to protect the national foreign currency reserves, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued import restrictions on almost 100 products, including milk and certain vehicles. The currency has been at a low level and placing import restrictions on certain products is the government’s way of solving the economic problem. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the first two months of 2011 have seen the import value of products reaching nearly $1.1 billion. These products include tobacco, wine and cosmetics.

This figure made up about 7.4 percent of the country’s total import value during the said period. This is equivalent to a 24.8 percent increase year-on-year. According the to General Statistics Office, the trade deficit in the first quarter of this year was reduced to $3.028 billion, compared to the $3.5 billion in the same period last year. The list of goods that are now prohibited from being imported includes fresh and powder milk, butter and automobiles, including golf cars and vehicles that are not within the range of 1,800cc-2,500cc. Other products on the list include poultry, meat, fish, crustaceans, vegetables and many others.