Just 100 cars were imported by legal entities in January
Belarus' Customs Committee chairman Alyaksandr Shpileuski has revealed that he does not know why Russia is increasing the number of customs officers at the customs post in Smolensk, how much car import duties will cost for legal entities and that fuel costs have increased at the pump from January 23. During a news conference in Minssk to sum up the results of customs' operation in 2009, Alyaksandr Shpileuski told reporters that the number of customs officers at the Russian-Belarusian border began growing unexpectedly after the Customs Union was signed.
Аляксандр Шпілеўскі: “The number of Russian customs officers at the border with Belarus has been increased. At the customs post in Smolensk they increased this number by 120 people. The same picture is at other customs border posts. This has been done allegedly to bring controls to the external border and that terminals are now located closer to the border. But in reality, we are observing that Russia has stepped up customs controls at the border with Belarus”.
But when asked what it meant exactly, Shpileuski failed to give any clear answer, because stepped up customs controls over vehicles, goods and citizens could not be physically observed. They are simply increasing the number of officers. It is a mystery for him, said Shpileuski.
Alyaksandr Shpileuski: “It is very hard to forecast or explain the work of Russia's customs authorities. This is in the cometence of Russia. The Belarusian customs will not react to the actions of the Russian colleagues. Belarus abolished customs controls at the border with Russia and they would stick to this position.
Effective from January 1, 2010, legal entities in Belarus have to pay increased custom clearance duties for the import of foreign cars, according to the regulations within the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. When asked by Euroradio how many vehicles were imported at new tariff rates, Syarhei Paludzen, head of tariff regulation and customs duties department at the Customs Committee, admitted frankly that the figure was very low. He said that not more than 100 vehicles were cleared by legal entitities since January 1.
From July 1, 2010, higher import duties for foreign cars for citizens will become effective. But Alyaksandr Shpileuski said the final tariffs would depend in the decision by Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Commenting on Russia's decision to collect 100 percent of customs duties when supplying crude oil to Belarus, Alyaksandr Shpileuski described it as illegal. At the same time, he declined to forecast how this situation could affect the Customs Union.
Alyaksandr Shpileuski: “Undoubtedly, the situation over customs duties for oil will definitely affect relations between Belarus and Russia. But from the point of view of the Customs Union, it is hard to make any forecasts now”.
Photo: Zmitser Lukashuk
Аляксандр Шпілеўскі: “The number of Russian customs officers at the border with Belarus has been increased. At the customs post in Smolensk they increased this number by 120 people. The same picture is at other customs border posts. This has been done allegedly to bring controls to the external border and that terminals are now located closer to the border. But in reality, we are observing that Russia has stepped up customs controls at the border with Belarus”.
But when asked what it meant exactly, Shpileuski failed to give any clear answer, because stepped up customs controls over vehicles, goods and citizens could not be physically observed. They are simply increasing the number of officers. It is a mystery for him, said Shpileuski.
Alyaksandr Shpileuski: “It is very hard to forecast or explain the work of Russia's customs authorities. This is in the cometence of Russia. The Belarusian customs will not react to the actions of the Russian colleagues. Belarus abolished customs controls at the border with Russia and they would stick to this position.
Effective from January 1, 2010, legal entities in Belarus have to pay increased custom clearance duties for the import of foreign cars, according to the regulations within the Customs Union of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. When asked by Euroradio how many vehicles were imported at new tariff rates, Syarhei Paludzen, head of tariff regulation and customs duties department at the Customs Committee, admitted frankly that the figure was very low. He said that not more than 100 vehicles were cleared by legal entitities since January 1.
From July 1, 2010, higher import duties for foreign cars for citizens will become effective. But Alyaksandr Shpileuski said the final tariffs would depend in the decision by Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Commenting on Russia's decision to collect 100 percent of customs duties when supplying crude oil to Belarus, Alyaksandr Shpileuski described it as illegal. At the same time, he declined to forecast how this situation could affect the Customs Union.
Alyaksandr Shpileuski: “Undoubtedly, the situation over customs duties for oil will definitely affect relations between Belarus and Russia. But from the point of view of the Customs Union, it is hard to make any forecasts now”.
Photo: Zmitser Lukashuk
