MOSCOW, 15 April (BelTA) – The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) has adopted a new package of anti-sanctions measures, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko told BelTA following the EEC Council meeting in Moscow.
“First and foremost, we have discussed how our union will respond to the sanctions. A number of decisions have been taken regarding critical imports. We have zeroed rates, discussed the types of products that we need to import in order keep our industry going. This is a priority matter and it was on the agenda of the previous meeting and today's session. We have zeroed [import duties] on a number of products, which will allow our industry to make up for the raw materials that were previously imported from the countries that imposed restrictions on us,” Igor Petrishenko said.
“The agenda also included plans to ease technical regulations in line with certain parameters, including regulations related to the supply of our trucks and tractors. This will be done to prevent the reduction of their supplies to the EAEU market,” the deputy prime minister continued.
The EEC Council discussed another sensitive issue, which is the regulation of the sugar market in the EAEU. “We have made a number of clarifying decisions on the import quota. We have agreed that the most important thing is to meet the needs of the EAEU market using the resources of Russia and Belarus. We will revisit this matter in September after harvesting,” Igor Petrishenko said.
Members of the EEC Council approved the agenda of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting due to take place in Bishkek on 26-27 May. They discussed international aspects of the EAEU activities, including free trade agreements with third countries and the functioning of joint groups that negotiate free trade agreements with friendly partners who are interested in closer cooperation with the EAEU countries.
“The digital agenda and organizational issues related to improving the efficiency of the EEC's operation were also discussed,” Igor Petrishenko added.
