Russia to introduce crude oil duties for Kazakhstan because of Belarus?

Russian officials plan to introduce customs duties on crude oil to Kazakhstan -- yet another member of the Customs Union, reports the Russian newspaper Vedomosti. Belarus will not be the only country in the union which lost access to Russian duty-free crude. The customs duty on crude oil for Kazakhstan is listed among proposed measures to boost revenues in the Russian budget in 2011-2013.

The duty was discussed with the government of Kazakhstan, but no decision was taken. Currently, Russian crude oil is supplied to Kazakhstan duty-free.