The Government will maintain the safeguarding measures on the import of sugar for another four years. A relevant bill was approved by the Government at its meeting of November 21 and is to be considered by the Parliament. The bill proposes preserving the safeguarding measures applied during the past four years. The measures consist in raising the import duties on sugar to 39-40%. To take effect, the law will need the approval of the World Health Organization (WHO). Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Viorel Melnic voiced hope that the WHO will approve the Government’s initiative, stressing that similar measures for protecting the internal producers are implemented by many states and the Government will present all the necessary and relevant arguments in an effort to protect this sector for another four years. Though the safeguarding measures stopped the sugar imports in the past four years, Viorel Melnic says that the economic situation in the area has not improved to the expected extent. He stated that Moldova asks for the maintenance of the safeguarding measures not because of this year’s drought, yet this will be a heavy argument. The sugar producers have recently announced that the sugar prices on the home market will not be increased despite the fact that the drought affected the sugar beet producers and processors. The Union of Sugar Producers of Moldova said that the sugar supplies will satisfy the demands on the domestic market this year and the next year, but no significant quantities of sugar will be exported. The sugar beet yield this year is expected to be twice lower than last year. There will be harvested about 600,000-660,000 tonnes or by 20-24 tonnes per hectare on average.