OREANDA-NEWS. August 20, 2010. The expert group of the Azerbaijani government supports liquidation of any restrictions on free trade regime.

The working group of the Customs Union,  established  by Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, paid a visit to Baku and held  consultations with  the Economic Development Ministry and the Azerbaijani government on  influence of the Customs Union on mutual trade and free trade zone of CIS.

We do not expect serious influence for a number of  reasons. On the one hand, while only separate agreements operate from package of specifications of Customs Council (about phytosanitary supervision and so on), on the other hand, an agreement on free trade was concluded  between Azerbaijan and Russia,” Y. Shedrin said.

Azerbaijan has similar agreements with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

“However, unlike the agreement with Belarus, contracts with Russia and Kazakhstan have withdrawals from free trade regime. In case of Russia the  question is tobacco and alcoholic production, here again there are two approaches to the issue. Experts of the Azerbaijani government propose  to refuse completely withdrawals from free trade regime,  Russia has somewhat different opinion,” Y. Shedrin said.

Discussion on this issue  has not been  finished as yet.

“In September,  organization of free trade of CIS in the conditions of introduction of the Customs Union will be discussed at a meeting  of the Economic Council of Commonwealth, and in November – at a meeting of the  Council of Heads of the CIS Governments,”  Y. Shedrin said.

The Customs Union of three countries has come into force since August 6,  2010.