KAMPALA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli has urged regional leaders to guard against excessive sugar imports in the East African region, warning that the imports were killing local industries and stifling employment opportunities.
A State House statement said Magufuli sounded the caution while meeting visiting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Dar es Salaam of Tanzania.
Magufuli said he had discussed the matter with Museveni, noting that the leaders must tackle the issue of illicit sugar and smuggling.
Magufuli's comments came shortly after Tanzania denied entry of 600 tonnes of Ugandan sugar into the country and demanded that the importer should pay taxes of 25 percent contrary to the East African Community Customs Union protocol.
"Our people met and discussed this. We should decide whether we need to grow our industries or becoming dumping grounds," he said.
A Ugandan delegation last month met with their Tanzanian counterparts at the border town of Mutukula.
