Skopje, 20 July 2022 (MIA) - Upon a proposal by the Economy Ministry, the Government at a session Wednesday decided to restrict exports of certain products and to lift import tariffs for sunflower cooking oil. The decisions aim to eliminate actions of speculation by traders and manufacturers and to protect domestic production, the domestic market and the citizens all the while maintaining domestic market supply given price surges, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi said. "In order to prevent serious market disruptions in the country that might occur as a result of wheat and flour export from the country, the Government has decided to restrict wheat and wheat flour export by the end of the year, Dec. 31, 2022. Amid an economic crisis caused by the Ukraine war and disruptions on the global wheat market, which is facing a serious lack of wheat, it is necessary to prevent possible additional market disruptions in the country involving these basic foodstuffs, the Economy Ministry said in a press release. Also, the government at today's session decided to restrict the exports of firewood and pellets by the end of the year following a proposal put forward by the Economy Ministry. The decision, said to the Ministry, was made so as to prevent and avoid the consequences caused by a rising demand of the population for firewood caused by the energy crisis on world markets. In consultation with the Agriculture Ministry and following a proposal of the Economy Ministry, the Government again decided to lift import tariffs for sunflower cooking oil for the purpose of maintaining domestic market supply given the price surges. The decision is in place until Dec. 31, 2022. The same decision was previously in force until May 31.