MOSCOW, 29 March (BelTA) – There are a number of shortcomings in efforts aimed at dismantling the barriers standing in the way of mutual trade in the Commonwealth of Independent States. Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko mentioned it at a session of the CIS Economic Council in Moscow on 29 March, BelTA has learned.
Igor Petrishenko said: “I’d like to draw attention to the work going on within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States for the sake of dismantling the barriers standing in the way of mutual trade.”
He reminded that a high-level working group had been set up upon Belarus’ initiative to discuss the existing trade barriers. The group has already produced the first results, however, systemic problems that require a solution have also been unearthed.
Igor Petrishenko divided them into three blocks: export duties, the use of differentiated excise duties on imports and domestic products by individual countries, and the reconciliation of draft agreements on technical barriers in mutual trade and on mutual recognition of accreditation of conformance evaluation bodies.
“We agree with the CIS Executive Committee that such matters may require discussion at a higher level,” Igor Petrishenko noted.
