OREANDA-NEWS. March 18, 2014. It is provided by the appropriate amendments to the existing law, adopted by the Parliament in the first reading at the session.

As it was noted by the Deputy Economy Minister Dmitriu Godoroja, the fee amounts to 1.5%, levied on the export of nuts, previously transferred to the special Fund of encouragement walnut cultivation. The mentioned fund was liquidated, but the duty was still applied.

This situation is contrary to obligations of Moldova within the framework of the World trade organization and free trade agreements, according to which the country must not impose the export duty. The levying duties on export of walnut was contrary to the norms of civilized trade, was a barrier to the export promotion of this crop and resulted in growth of its cost.

Moldova annually exports 11-13 thousand tons of nuts that make 2% of the total exports. Almost all Moldovan nuts are shipped to EU. As the Ministry of economy notes, the fee amounts to 1.5% of the cost of exported nuts and makes 0.056% of the total budget revenue. Its abolition will have a negligible impact on the budget, but will facilitate nuts exports.