The Customs Union might increase the import duty on dairy products up to 20%, Trade Minister of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrei Slepnev told reporters at the conference "Formation of a common position on agricultural policy within the framework of the Customs Union and the WTO", BelTA informs.

Currently, the import duty on dairy products is as high as 15%. Proposals to raise it to 20% are being considered by the Eurasian Economic Commission, said Andrei Slepnev. The 20% limit was set forth by the WTO before Russia’s accession to this organization.

He added that the decision to increase the duty may be finalized by January 2013. "We have been discussing these matters and have come to the conclusion that every item needs to be analyzed individually, so that we can see how the increase in the customs duty might influence inflation processes," said the minister. He noted that it pertains to dairy products: cheese, butter, milk powder – the products that are imported by Russia and that influence the Russian market.

Andrei Slepnev said that the proposal to increase the duty on dairy products is considered at the request of Belarus.


 

Belta