Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia will remove all exemptions in mutual trade

"I think a large number of exemptions will be removed as the countries sign the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty. Some will probably remain in place but will have a removal deadline," the Ambassador said.

Alexander Surikov noted that the issue of exemptions is very sensitive for the three future members of the Eurasian Economic Union. "Belarus pays customs duties to Russia on the light oil products made from Russian oil, and this issue is very sensitive for Russia. I believe this situation is wrong. There is no such practice anywhere in the world. Immediately or not, but we should address this issue, because we operate outside of market relations. Oil is traded on exchanges. Oil prices are set on exchanges. Oil is bought, processed, and all this is based on the stock exchange or market prices," the diplomat noted.

"We need to adjust the economy by means of increasing its efficiency. The economy, both Russian and Belarusian, should operate on market terms, and all these preferences should be abolished," said Alexander Surikov. According to the Ambassador, the Belarusian side should also abolish the preferences for the producers of tobacco, alcohol, and seafood goods, BelTA reports.

The diplomat noted that the three parties are working on the issue. Initially, there was a general agreement of the three presidents to remove the exemptions in trade in goods and services this year with the signing of the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty. "I think that not everything can work out but we will certainly remove exemptions in trade in commodities," said Alexander Surikov.