MOSCOW (MRC) -- New import duties of the Common Customs Tariff affected polymers and came into effect on 1 September of 2013, according to the Decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) as of 2 July 2013.
In addition to polymers, reductions will affected different kinds of products, including equipment, certain types of fabrics, some clothing, food, etc. Thus, the EEC has fulfilled the commitments undertaken by Russia to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
As reported earlier, the protocol on Russia's accession into the Marrakesh Agreement, establishing the WTO, came into force a year ago, on 22 August. The changes to the Common Customs Tariff (CCT) of the Customs Union affected nearly 10% of import duties (of about 11,000).
Product HS Code Duties valid until 31.08.2013 New duties
MEG 2905 31 000 0 10% 9.3 %
Ethylene 2901 21 000 0 5% 4%
Propylene 2901 22 000 0 5% 4%
Styrene 2902 50 000 0 5% 4%
Benzene 2902 20 000 0 5% 4%
DOP 2917 32 000 0 10% 8.8%
LDPE 3901 10 900 0 10% 9.1%
HDPE 3901 20 100 0 10% 9.1%
EVA 3901 30 000 0 10% 8.8%
Polypropylene 3902 10 000 0 10 % 9.1%
Copolymers of propylene 3902 30 000 0 10% 8.3%
SAN 3903 20 000 0 10% 8.8%
ABS 3903 30 000 0 10% 8.3%
PVC blended unplasticized 3904 21 000 0 10% 6.5 %
PVC plasticized 3904 22 000 0 10% 6.5 %
PET 3907 60 200 0 5% 4%
In accordance with the reached agreements, the average import duty in Russia decreased to 7.8% from 10% in 2011 for all products. For the polymer industry, reductions of import duties are scheduled to be held in two phases for the bulk of large polymers with exception of PET chips. PET import duties were reduced from the current 5% to 4%.
As MRC wrote earlier, after joining the WTO, Russia has been gradually reducing import duties on large polymers from 10% to 6.5%.
EEC reported this year's cuts in duties will affect about 5,100 items, with a drop for each item to be relatively small, often in the range of 1-3%.
EEC's represetatives believe that, jugding from the last year's experience, the current small reduction in duties will not harm the Russian market.
MRC