Ukrainian special duties on Belarusian goods and Belarusian licensing of imports of Ukrainian goods are canceled from August 19 - Ambassador of Belarus

As Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Velichko recalled at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday, in April-May 2014, in order to streamline certain segments of the domestic market, Belarus introduced requirements for licensing the import of certain goods, in particular, beer, pasta and confectionery, cement, glass .

"Adequately, Ukraine kept customs duties on our sensitive goods like refrigerators, tires, fertilizers, dairy products over 55%, which became impassable," V. Velichko explained.

At the same time, he noted: “A number of consultations have been held. Currently, all these points have been canceled, both at the level of the Cabinet of Ministers and at the level of the Belarusian government. And from tomorrow, that is, from August 19, all customs offices have instructions, circulars that everything returns to the free trade zone".

As noted in a press release distributed by the Embassy of Belarus to journalists, on July 24 the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus adopted a resolution that created conditions for the simultaneous elimination of mutual barriers in bilateral trade.

According to the document, the requirements for licensing beer, confectionery and pasta, cement, glass do not apply to the EXPORT to Belarus of goods and states parties to the agreement on the CIS free trade zone dated October 18, 2011, if they do not apply to Belarusian goods not provided for by the agreement restrictive measures.

"Thus, the Belarusian side has clearly indicated that as soon as the Ukrainian sanctions cease to operate, the licensing of imports to Belarus in relation to Ukrainian enterprises will not be applied," the press release says.

At the same time, the document notes that "the Republic of Belarus officially notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine through diplomatic channels that from August 19 of this year, licensing for Ukrainian enterprises supplying pasta and confectionery, beer, cement and glass containers to the Belarusian market, will not apply."