Before joining WTO, Kazakhstan to harmonize import duties with CU member states: PM
ASTANA. September 30. KAZINFORM Prior to accessing the World Trade Organization (WTO), Kazakhstan needs to harmonize import duties with other member countries of the Customs Union, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov said in an exclusive interview to KTK TV channel.
"Kazakhstan is a country with open market economy where free movement of services and goods has been established and that is why it is very important to join this organization [WTO]. The country will have an opportunity to be competitive in all directions. When joining the WTO Kazakhstan will face both benefits and implications. Firstly, there is a question whether our goods will be competitive enough abroad? The state program of the advanced industrial and innovative development is the one that is aimed at the creation of new manufactures, qualitative goods that can be competitive. Secondly, Kazakhstan will see the inflow of foreign goods coming from the WTO countries. Can our prices and quality of our goods sustain the competition? As you can see there are certain risks for our commodity producers," S. Akhmetov told the channel.
The Premier also noted that ahead of entering the WTO, Kazakhstan needs to complete the negotiation process as well as harmonize import duties with the Customs Union member states.