TR: Belarus to sign treaty on duty-free oil exports before yearend
ST PETERSBURG, December 18 (Itar-Tass) - All volumes of oil and oil products that exceed that necessary for Belarus’ domestic consumption will be liable to 100-percent customs duties as of January 1, 2010, Vice-Premier Igor Sechin told reporters on Friday.
He noted that Belarus’ domestic consumption totals 6 million tonnes, including 1.5 million tonnes that Belarus produces itself.
“All other volumes should be liable to 100-percent customs duties,” Sechin said. “Such an approach should ensure high transparency, protection of the Russian budget. At the same time it fully takes into consideration the demands of Belarus’ economy.”
Russia and Belarus will sign a treaty on duty-free crude exports in the volumes necessary for Belarus’ domestic consumption before the end of the year, he said.
He noted that Russia put forward the relevant proposal to Belarus at the meeting of the two countries’ Supreme Council.
“As of January 1, 2010, decreasing coefficients on Russia’s oil exports expire. At the initiative of the Russian side the oil volumes necessary for Belarus’ domestic consumption will be exported duty-free, which is an unprecedented step,” Sechin said.
