BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

09/03/2007

Belarus Customs Ease Control Over Russian Cargoes From Kaliningrad

Belarus's State Customs Committee has eased control over the movement of shipments from the Kaliningrad exclave to the rest of Russia, Belapan reported on March 8, quoting a Belarusian customs official. In January, Belarusian customs officers started inspecting each truck originating from Kaliningrad Oblast and bound for Russia, with each shipment escorted from border to border. Minsk said it wanted in this way to prevent import-duty evasion schemes by haulers that in fact unloaded their cargoes in Belarus. Moscow subsequently retaliated by barring Belarusian trucking companies from carrying third-country shipments to or from Russia (see "RFE/RL Newsline," February 9, 2007). Now Minsk and Moscow reportedly agreed on a new procedure for monitoring the movement of shipments from Kaliningrad, under which Russian customs officers are obliged to provide additional information to Belarusian counterparts on cargoes carried from the exclave. However, commodities subject to excise tax as well as certain alcohol-containing products originating from Kaliningrad will continue to be escorted from border to border. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/03/3-CEE/cee-090307.asp