E-Malt.com News article: Azerbaijan & Russia: Azerbaijan ready to discuss Russia’s pretences on beer trade mode between countries

Azerbaijani Government paid attention to request of Russia to fulfill protocol on stage-by-stage abolition of exceptions from independent trade mode between countries signed in March 2004, Fineko reported October 22.

Azerbaijani Government reported to Fineko/abc.az that request of Russia was presented to Ministry of Economic Development to be studied there.

Russia indicated that introduction from April 1 of excises for alcohol production import breach existing agreements between countries.

Russia and Azerbaijan signed the free trade agreement back in 1999 and that the protocol to the agreement signed on 29 November 2000 envisaged the gradual exemption of all the imported/exported spirits of the customs duties.

Following the protocol, the duties, excise charges and the VAT on beer exported from Russia to Azerbaijan and will become ineffective as of 1 January 2005. The same document envisages the gradual termination of the import duties on spirits on both sides beginning in 2012.

Azerbaijan experts agreed with Russia that bilateral agreements were breached. At the same time, Ministry of Economic Development has not yet confirmed receiving of the letter from Russian Government.


24 October, 2007