Ethiopia's Ministry of Trade and Industry said Wednesday the country's wood, weavery and artifact products are now allowed to be exported to the US market without tariff or quota.

Hailu Abebe, the ministry's information and public relations officer, told journalists that Ethiopia was allowed to export some 1,800 additional handicraft products to the US market through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

He added Ethiopia has been exporting 4,650 types of products to the US market.

Abebe said the handicraft products should promote Ethiopian landscape and other features of the country, adding that investors who would like to make use of the opportunity should strive to meet the stated requirement.

Products with symbols, images and designs that have no Ethiopian characteristics, however, are not permitted to be exported, he said.

Moreover, the products should not use modern zippers, plastic materials or clippers, he said.

Abebe noted that Ethiopia has secured some 4 million US dollars since it became beneficiary of the AGOA five years ago.

The AGOA came into effect in 2000 and provided tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets.

Source: Xinhua