OREANDA-NEWS. September 03, 2014. The relevant decree, signed by Russia’s Premier Dmitry Medvedev on July 31, 2014, comes into effect in 30 days after the signing.

In line with the decree, customs duties are imposed on goods originated from Moldova as it is required by the Single Customs Tariff of the Customs Union in accordance with the most-favourable-nation treatment. The goods the import customs duties to be applied to include meat; vegetables; fruit, including apples, pears, quinces, apricots, cherries and sweet cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, prunes and sloes; crops, including wheat, barley, oat and maize; flour, excepting the wheat and wheat-and-rye one; sunflower seeds: sugar, canned vegetables; beer; grape wine; alcohol beverages and furniture.

Moldova has been given the status of the CIS Free Trade Member. It means that commodities originated from Moldova can not be liable to customs taxation. The matter of introducing protective measures against Moldovan commodities was raised by Russia after Moldova and the EU signed the Association and DCFTA agreements in Brussels on June 27. Russia’s authorities said they fear re-exports would flow from other countries through Moldova to Russia. Chisinau authorities have frequently noted that the EU-RM DCFTA agreement and RM –CIS Free Trade Agreement do not contradict each other as based on WTO principles of which both Moldova and Russia are members.

Moldova’s government thinks the bans and restraints introduced by Russia are rather about politics than about economy. It should be noted that on July 18, Rospotrebnadzor prohibited the imports of Moldova’s canned fruit and vegetables. On July 21, another Russia’s state agency - Rosselkhoznadzor - introduced the ban on the import of Moldovan fresh fruit.