OREANDA-NEWS The Russian customs has strengthened control over the supply of certain categories of imported goods. This is with reference to representatives of importing companies and the business association Delovaya Rossiya. Vedomosti reports.

Customs officers began to check shipments more carefully in order to establish the country of origin of the goods. If the product was manufactured in the United States or in an unidentified country, it is subject to increased duties. Previously, one product out of ten was checked, but now confirmation of the country of origin is required for each shipment.

For the first time, this practice began to be applied in 2018 in response to restrictions on the import of Russian steel and aluminum and the installation of protective duties of 25 and 10 percent, respectively. For American metal products, construction machinery, equipment and tools, tariffs increased from 3-5 percent of the customs value to 25-40 percent.

The strengthening of customs control was explained by the decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which introduced retaliatory measures against a number of goods, explained partner B1 Wilhelma Shavshina. In the absence of a certificate confirming that the goods were not manufactured in the USA or the presence of errors, incomplete or incorrect information in it, the customs authorities apply the rate of increased import customs duty

According to Vladislav Varshavsky, managing partner of the law firm Varshavsky and Partners, careful checks of the origin of goods complicate the life of importers. Many transit jurisdictions refuse to issue certificates of origin, which is why it is almost impossible to confirm non-American origin.

Earlier it became known that Lithuania had tightened the rules for the supply of sanctioned goods through Belarus and Russia. From December 18, 2023, during export (re-export) or transit, it is necessary to confirm the origin of the goods. The declaration must contain confirmation that the manufacturer knows who the end user is, and is also sure that it is not used to circumvent sanctions restrictions, otherwise the goods will not be released from the European Union.