VIENNA, March 12 (Itar-Tass) – The Eurasian Economic Commission agreed to increase the import duties on the dairy products to 18.3%, Minister of Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrei Slepnev told reporters here on Tuesday.
“We finally agreed on the decision to increase the duties on a broad scope of dairy products,” he said, adding that the duties will be increased from 15% to 18.3% for a period of 90 days starting from April 1, 2013.
“As a result of the negotiations we agreed that the import duties will be increased not to 20%, but 18.3% that is the level, which we are to reach with the WTO starting from August 2013,” he noted.
“The duties will be introduced on the temporary basis for 90 days from April 1, 2013,” Slepnev said. “Upon the results of 45 days of the foresaid measure in effect we will be monitoring to consider whether this measure had the negative impact on the dairy market in the country in terms of the inflation rate,” the minister added.
“If everything is calm, we will make it permanent,” he said, noting that the factor of harvest and the prices of fodders will be taken into account in taking the decision.
Slepnev recalled Belarus has made a proposal to raise the import duties. “The survey showed that this is a substantial import growth, which is caused by some reduction in the tariff shelter during Russia’s accession in the WTO and the price growth on the fodders of dairy cattle breeding,” he underlined.