The Eurasian Economic Commission has introduced tariff preferences for the import of beef and certain cocoa products.
Imports of non-defatted cocoa paste, cocoa butter and cocoa fat (EAEU HS codes 1803 10 000 0 and 1804 00 000 0) will be exempt from customs duties.
“These products are used by confectionery manufacturers to produce chocolate, chocolate sweets and chocolate products, as well as in the pharmaceutical and perfume industries. The application of the tariff preference will help ensure the efficiency of organisations by reducing raw material costs,” said EEC Minister for Trade Andrey Slepnev.
Belarus will be allowed to import no more than 5.5 thousand tonnes of products under code 1803 10 000 0 and no more than 3.5 thousand tonnes under code 1804 00 000 0. The goods may be used exclusively within the country.
Quotas were also allocated to Armenia (300 and 200 tonnes), Kyrgyzstan (300 tonnes of cocoa fat) and Russia (37 thousand tonnes for both categories). The tariff preference will be in effect through April 30, 2027, inclusive.
The EEC also distributed quotas for duty-free imports of certain types of cattle meat. Belarus will be allowed to import 7.5 thousand tonnes, Armenia 7.5 thousand tonnes, Kazakhstan 5 thousand tonnes, Kyrgyzstan 5 thousand tonnes and Russia 100 thousand tonnes.
Until May 15 this year, quotas are provided for imports of:
- apricots — no more than 600 tonnes to Belarus and no more than 3 thousand tonnes to Kazakhstan;
- sour cherries — no more than 0.5 thousand tonnes to Kazakhstan and no more than 2 thousand tonnes to Russia;
- sweet cherries — no more than 0.6 thousand tonnes to Belarus, no more than 1.5 thousand tonnes to Kazakhstan and no more than 25 thousand tonnes to Russia;
- plums — no more than 0.7 thousand tonnes to Belarus, no more than 1.5 thousand tonnes to Kazakhstan and no more than 23 thousand tonnes to Russia.