Import Duties

Russia promised ‘to lower citrus import duties’

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According to a document seen by Interfax, Russia could be set to lower the import duty on citrus products within a year of its accession to the WTO. Duties will also be lowered on mandarin oranges, lemons and limes, the document suggested.

Import duties on oranges and grapefruits, which currently stand at 5 per cent, €0.02 per kg, will be maintained until Russia joins the WTO. However, in 2013 the import duty on oranges will drop to 5 per cent but no lower than €0.017 per kg, while on grapefruits it will fall to 5 per cent but no lower than €0.015 per kg.

Between January and September this year, Russia’s citrus imports grew from 873,000 tonnes at US$730.7m to 1m tonnes at US$979.3m.

However, import duties on bananas and grapes will not change, the document said. It will be kept at its current level of 5%.

Source: www.fruitnet.com, www.freshplaza.com

Russian government seen decreasing import duties under WTO deal

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The Russian government has agreed to decrease its average import duties on agricultural and industrial products as part of Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Specifically, average import duties on agricultural products are expected to be lowered to 10.8% from the current 13.2%, the WTO said.

Roughly 33% of newly set import duties are expected to come into effect when Russia joins the WTO, while about 25% are to be lowered in the next three years.

Source: www.prime-tass.com

Import Duties on Carrots, Beetroots and Onions Zeroed in Customs Union

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The Commission of the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan zeroed import duties on carrots, beetroots and onions. Earlier the duty on import of these vegetables was 15%. The decision comes into force as soon it is officially published and will be valid until 30 June 2011. As Ministry of Economic Development reports, the governmental subcommission on customs and rates also suggested that the Customs Union should zero import duties on some fruit and vegetables – tomatoes, cucumbers, gherkins and apples. It was also suggested that duties on milk powder and packaged tea should be zeroed, but this suggestion was rejected.

Source: www.tks.ru

Fixed Fee Imposed by the New Customs Code in Russia

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The Russian Federal Customs Service has taken into account complaints of the business and is trying to facilitate the customs clearance procedure by setting a fixed fee which doesn’t depend on the value of cargo. The customs clearance procedure is supposed to become faster and easier, but experts are warning that the new system will have a negative effect on medium-sized businesses.  At the moment it is being agreed upon the amount of the new fixed fee; initially it was suggested that it should be as much as 5,000 rubles (approx. USD 160). Dmitri Medwedew admitted that Russia is losing potential investors due to the long and costly customs clearance procedures, partially caused by time spent of identifying and verifying the cargro value.

Source: www.retailer.ru