BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

10/01/2007

Russia prepares temporary breakup of customs union with Belarus

The conflict between Russia and Belarus has turned into a true trade war between Moscow and Minsk. The Russian Federation intends to impose imports duty on Belarusian goods in response to the duty for Russian oil transit imposed by Belarus.

Within next few days, a package of economic measures will be prepared including duties on Belarusian goods that are now imported with no duty, a source at the Russian government told Vedomosti newspaper.

Thus, duties will be imposed on goods, which make up a half of the Belarusian exports to Russia ($6 billion in cash). The measures practically will become a temporary breakup of the customs union with Belarus.

Source:

http://www.regnum.ru/english/764475.html