Import Duties

EAEU Allows Temporary Duty-Free Imports of Critical Foods

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On April 3, 2020, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which is the regulatory body of the Armenia-Belarus-Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan-Russia Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), issued EEC Council Decision No. 33, introducing a temporary exemption from import duties for critical food products, such as potatoes, onions, garlic, cabbages, rice, rye, buckwheat, etc., as part of the EAEU coronavirus pandemic response.

The measure, which comes into effect on April 18, 2020, will apply to products imported as of April 1, 2020, and last through June 30, 2020. This report contains an unofficial English translation of the measure.

www.fas.usda.gov

Fruits and Vegetables will Pass through the Tajikistan-Russia Simplified Corridor

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Five groups of foods products can pass through the Tajikistan-Russia simplified corridor.

Tajikistan and Russia have agreed to simplify customs procedures.  An agreement between Tajikistan’s Customs Service and Russia’s Federal Customs Service on simplifying customs procedures for movement of goods and vehicles between Tajikistan and Russia (Simplified Customs Corridor) was signed in Moscow on April 17, 2019.

In accordance with the annex to the agreement, the following goods can pass through the Tajikistan-Russia simplified corridor:

– Vegetables and some edible roots and tubers;

– Edible fruits and nuts, citrus and melon peels;

– Unroasted Peanuts;

– Processed vegetables, fruits, nuts or other parts of plants;

– Various food products.

Persons participating in the simplified customs corridor project have some preferences.  For example, they have the priorities in customs clearance zones and customs procedures will be accelerated for them.

Russian media outlets consider that the agreement is groundwork for the possible expansion of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC).  In an interview with Ekonimka Segodnya (Economics Today), Dmitry Verkhoturov, an expert on Central Asia at the Center for Contemporary Afghanistan Studies, said Tajikistan is seeking expansion of economic cooperation with Russia.

www.news.tj

Russia lowers import tariffs

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According to Russian media, the country will lower the import tariffs for pistachios and dried fruit to a zero-tariff. At the end of May, import levies on broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts will also be lowered. Cultivation of these vegetables is difficult in the Russian climate. The main trade partners for dried fruit are Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkey, Chile and Argentina.

www.freshplaza.com

Russia will begin negotiations with Peru on the introduction of free trade between the two countries

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In the near future Peru and Russia will begin dialogue on the conclusion of a free trade agreement. According to the Peruvian edition “Andina”, the Office of the South American country has already sent an official letter to Denis Manturov, head of the Russian Ministry of Industry.

– Minister Jose Luis Silva, held talks with his Russian counterpart, we also met with representatives of the Russian authorities in the country – said this week, Carlos Posada, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru.
Recall that in 2012 the volume of trade between the two countries amounted to 726 million U.S. dollars, and with the adoption of a bilateral agreement it can increase substantially. Peru has traditionally imported fertilizer from Russia and exported a wide range of products, including vegetables.

Source: www.fruitnews.info

Russia has become the main market for Spanish fruit and vegetables

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The integration of Russia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into effect on August 22 after 18 years of negotiations. Russia has become the main market for the export of fruit and vegetables from Spain.

Exports of fruits and vegetables from Spain to Russia in 2011 stood at 243,027 tons, 47% more than in 2010, making Russia the first non-EU member market for Spanish fruit and vegetables. Spanish vegetable export to Russia in 2011 reached 35,276 tons compared to 23,877 tons in 2010, 48% more, due to increased exports of cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce. Fruit shipments totalled 207,751 tons, compared to 141,259 tons in 2010, 47% more. Peaches, nectarines and tangerines were the most imported fruit by Russia from Spain.

In 2011 Russia accounted for 30% of total exports from Spain to countries outside the EU, which stood at 814,896 tons.

For 2012 Russia still remains the main destination of Spanish fruit and vegetable exports, since in February shipments grew 50% compared to the same months of 2011, totalling 47,362 tons, according to the latest information updated by the Department of Customs and Excise Tax Agency, processed by FEPEX. After the final integration of Russia in the WTO, there is concern from FEPEX to establish an adequate policy to maintain the good performance of exports of fruits and vegetables.

Source: www.freshplaza.com

Customs union reduces tariffs for some products

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23 August new import customs duties were introduced, they were changed because of Russia’s accession to the WTO. The first change concerns only 10% of tariffs – mostly duties on meat and dairy products, on fruit and vegetables, as well as cars.

Russia is one of the largest importers of apples and after accession to the WTO import duties on these fruits were significantly reduced. The duty on apples will be 0.06 euro per 1 kg. It will be applied for one year.

At the same time, Russia’s entry into the WTO will not change the import duty on pears, it will remain 10%. In 2015 it will be reduced by 5%.

Import duties on apricots, cherries, plums will remain 5%, and on strawberry – 10%. Also, the zero import duty on nectarines, peaches, kiwi will be kept.

Russia’s accession to the WTO will not change duties on bananas, they will remain 5%, but not less than 0.02 euro per 1 kg. The duty on orange , grapefruit and other citrus fruits will also remain the same – 5%, but not less than 0.02 euro per 1 kg, the same is for mandarins, clementines, and others (5%, but not less than 0.03 euro).

At the same time the duty on lemons and limes will decrease from 5%, but not less than 0.035 euro, up to 5%, but not less than 0.02 euro per 1 kg.

Source: www.retailer.ru

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Affect of Russia’s accession to the WTO on fish import duties

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Due to Russia’s accession to the WTO, nearly all categories of fish and seafood will see a reduction in tariffs, although reductions may not occur immediately with accession.

Frozen, fresh and chilled fish (excluding filets) will see reduced tariffs between 2013 and 2017. The pre-accession applied bound rate is currently 10 per cent; the final bound rate is expected to fall between eight and three per cent depending on species. For salmon and trout fillets, the final bound rate is expected to be four per cent by 2016, and for cod fillets, to five per cent by 2015.

Tariffs on frozen hake and pollock fillets will fall to seven per cent by 2014. For crustaceans, the tariff on whole lobsters will fall from 10 to only five per cent with this change occurring by 2015 for frozen and by 2016 for live lobsters. For non-whole frozen lobsters the tariff will fall from 10 to eight per cent by 2013.

For frozen shrimps and prawns, the current tariff will fall to between five and three per cent by 2014-2015 depending on variety. For frozen crabs, it will fall from 10 to five per cent by 2015-2016 depending on variety. For mollusks, the pre-accession applied/post-accession bound rate will fall to seven per cent by 2015 for oysters, for scallops to six per cent by 2015 and for mussels to five or six per cent by 2016-2017 depending on variety.

Source: www.thefishsite.com

Retail chains will make a profit on Russia’s accession to the WTO

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Big retailer chains such as X5 Retail Group, “Azbuka Vkusa”,”Okay” and others will have made a profit on Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the end of 2013 according to the international rating agency Moody’s. Import duties reduction will increase the demand, and, consequently, that will increase revenues and profits of retail chains.

One of conditions of Russia’s accession to the WTO is a reduction of the import duties and tariffs from 10% to 7.8%, according to the report made by Moody’s experts. In their opinion, this should stimulate consumer demand and, therefore, benefits of importers and retailers.

As Moody’s reports, imported products have a significant share in retailers’ turnover; at the same time retailers will reduce retail prices less than the duties and tariffs will be reduced. As a result, the revenue will grow up.

Source:  www.fruitnews.ru

Russia may ban the import of fruits and vegetables from Turkey

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Russia may prohibit the supply of fruits and vegetables from Turkey because of the violations of the Russian customs claims. Rosselkhoznadzor (Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance) admit such a possibility because of increasing quantity of supplies of fruits and vegetables that contain hazardous substances.

Meanwhile, Turkey is a major supplier of fruits and vegetables to Russia.

Source: www.fruitnews.ru

Russia issues ultimatum to Pakistan

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Russia threatens ban on some Pakistani produce over poor quality and unreliable quarantine standards

Russia has said it could ban fresh fruit and vegetable imports from Pakistan if the Asian nation does not improve its phytosanitaty standards.

According to a report by the Business Recorder, Russia’s quarantine department sent a letter to Pakistan’s department of plant protection stating agreed upon quality standards were not being met and export procedures not being followed.

The letter outlined possible restrictions on future trade if Russian concerns were not addressed, the newspaper reported.

Source: www.fruitnet.com