Ukraine expands customs duties on liquefied gas imports from Russia

The Cabinet of Ministers
decided at its July 24 meeting to expand its customs duties on liquefied gas
imports from Russia to include all types, Andriy Geurs, the president’s
representative to the Cabinet of Ministers, reported on his Facebook page on
July 30. The original resolution on July 17 applied duties to only 1.7% of
liquefied gas imports, one industry consultant alleged. The special customs
duties on imports of liquefied gas and pipeline-supplied diesel fuel from
Russia were applied on July 17 in response to the Russian government’s April 18
decision to limit
exports of oil and oil-based products to Ukraine. The customs duties will
affect traders, not the retail market, and bring an additional UAH 2 bln in
budget revenue annually, Gerus said on July 17.

Zenon Zawada: The
Ukrainian government has maintained its guard against Russia amid the change in
president. And tough economic measures against Russia have the support of
Ukrainian President Zelensky, considering this latest measure was promoted by
Gerus, his representative to the Cabinet. So far, Zelensky has demonstrated a
strictly pro-Western foreign policy.