MOSCOW, 9 February (BelTA) – Russia's State Duma ratified two Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental protocols in the oil sector, BelTA has learned.
The protocols were signed in 2014. They amended some earlier bilateral documents on the order of payment and transfer of export customs duties (other duties, taxes and charges having equivalent effect) in the export of crude oil and certain oil products from Belarus outside the customs territory of the Customs Union.
When presenting the protocols to the Russian MPs, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Ilya Trunin explained that the documents formalize the arrangements reached in 2014 by the presidents of Belarus and Russia on cooperation in the oil sector. According to them, all duties on the export of oil products made of Russian oil by the Belarusian refineries are transferred to the budget of Belarus. This order will remain in effect until 2024.
Ilya Trunin noted that these protocols have been temporarily applied since 1 January 2015. Speaking to the MPs, he said that the Russian government submitted the documents to the State Duma for ratification in 2015. The deputy minister found it difficult, however, to name the reason for the delay. He added that Belarus had already conducted all necessary ratification procedures.
