Egypt has stopped all cotton imports: agriculture ministry

An Egyptian tradesman prepares to move a sack full of cotton to a car for sale at a market in Cairo June 24, 2008. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's agriculture ministry said on Tuesday it would stop cotton imports of all origins to protect local production. It will exempt all cargoes shipped before July 4, the ministry said in a statement. "The decision aims to protect local production of cotton and resolve its marketing problems," it said.