Russian customs returns to normality for Ukrainian imports, ministry says

The Russian Customs Service returned to standard customs clearance procedures for Ukrainian imports on August 20, the Interfax-Ukraine news service reported yesterday, citing Ukraine’s Ministry of Revenue and Fees. Representatives from both state agencies held negotiations on August 19.

“During negotiations, the Russian side assured us that as of today, additional procedures of customs control in regards to Ukrainian goods aren’t being applied,” the Revenue and Fees Ministry press service said. “The goods of Ukrainian enterprises are passing through the Russian customs in standard regime. The acuteness of the problematic situation has been resolved.”

The two sides agreed that the key mechanisms of regulating and preventing similar situations will be an exchange of information between the customs organs of both countries, conducting bilateral consultations, and developing common approaches, particularly when the interests of Russian and Ukrainian companies are affected, the ministry reported.

Zenon Zawada: We are confident that any resolution of customs restrictions on Ukrainian goods – if that truly has been achieved – is merely temporary. All signs point to a long, protracted conflict that must conclude with Ukraine’s membership in the Customs Union.

Ukrainian companies were still reporting yesterday trouble with Russian customs, including Akvafrost, which has been unable to export its crab products to Russia since March, as cited by the Interfax news agency on August 20. Russian customs cited “nonconformity with some incomprehensible parameters,” he said, adding that attempts with officials to resume exports have been unsuccessful.

We also expect the conflict will be fought on many fronts. The Kazakhstan government has stopped poultry imports from Ukraine, citing the inability to perform stricter laboratory reviews, Interfax reported yesterday. Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Ministry warned it would forbid the import of Ukrainian poultry to the entire Customs Union if the products repeatedly demonstrate non-conformity with technical regulations.