British MP hits out at EU over basmati rice shortage [tariff]

Times of India ^ | 5 May 2008

[DeaconBenjamin]

LONDON: Growing unease in the Indian restaurant industry over the shortage and rising prices of basmati rice has reached the House of Commons with an early day motion condemning the European Union for imposing tariffs on the grain.

Philip Davies, Conservative MP from Shipley, north England, tabled the motion following several complaints by Indian restaurant owners in his constituency as well as in Bradford.

The early day motion titled 'Basmati Rice' reads: "That this House is concerned about the rising cost of rice which is causing problems for many South Asian restaurants and takeaways; condemns the EU for imposing tariffs of up to 65 euros per ton on basmati rice from Thailand, Egypt, Uruguay and the US; believes in the principle of free trade; and therefore calls on the government to regain trade policy from the EU and abolish these tariffs for the benefit of these restaurants, takeaways and the customers they serve".

"These trade tariffs are totally unjustified. They are pushing up the prices for consumers, causing problems for our local restaurants and takeaways across Bradford and also hinder some of the poorest countries in the world from trading their way out of poverty," Davies said.

He said that the trade tariffs were another prime example of how the EU had allegedly become a "protection racket for inefficient producers".

The UK imports around 200,000 tones of rice every year and is the largest importer of rice in the EU.

[DeaconBenjamin]

The EU has to protect the domestic basmati rice crop. LOL

[Sender]

If the Indian restaurant community were complaining about Basmati rice prices here in Georgia, that would be about two voices accompanied by crickets.

But we're talking about multicultural Britain, where the "South Asian culture" has a lot more clout. They will cave for the "Asian community".

As a side note, rice here is cheap and plentiful. God bless America.

[CarrotAndStick]

[muawiyah]

Clue ~ rice sells at the world price in the US. We are also one of the smaller producers. The big boys are China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Bismati, though, is terrible stuff. An acquired taste I've heard. And it doesn't stick together well enough to make decent sushi.

[FoxInSocks]

And it doesn't stick together well enough to make decent sushi.

Basmati is very long. You need some short grain rice for yummy Japanese dishes with sticky rice.

[Sender]

Basmati and Thai jasmine rice both smell wonderful when they're cooking. They smell like flowers. Rich, buttery flowers.

But I'm just a Georgia redneck, I can easily whip out the Mahatma US-grown white rice just as well. Or a potato. Flowers are optional.

[SeeSharp]

We are also one of the smaller producers. The big boys are China, Thailand and Vietnam.

I believe we are the third largest exporter of rice though. The current shortage should be doing our farmers some good right now.

Bismati, though, is terrible stuff. An acquired taste...

I had no trouble acquiring it. Indian rice is heavenly.

[gigster]

“Al Gore is lyin’, and people are dyin’”!

[Proud_USA_Republican]

While I love my sushi and calrose rice with fish.
My favorite rice is Long Grain american basmati rice grown in texas. Not only yummy, but good for your heart and digestive system.

[FreedomPoster]

Tamaki Gold is a great U.S.-grown sushi rice. I’m getting low, I need to go to the BFM and get some more.

[FreedomPoster]

You’ve never been to Gwinnett County, have you?

[muawiyah]

That's a California rice. I haven't seen the brand on the East Coast, but even Giant and Safeway carry Kokuo Rose around here, and sometimes you see Cal Rose. Nishiki shows up with some degree of regularity. I think the Korean shops have a preference for it since it is claimed Nishiki does not require additional washing.

BTW, our March 28 rice thread is already the number one hit on google.com lookups.

Why do Freepers know about rice?

[FreedomPoster]

I’m in ATL, it’s readily available here. I know two specialty groceries, one that is quite large, that carry it.

I started learning a little about rice when I bought a really nice Zojirushi rice cooker, after some friends who had lived in Okinawa showed me what theirs could do. I can’t speak for the rest of the group.