Reducing the upper ceiling for the tax-free import into the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries from foreign online shops from the current 1,000 EUR to 150 EUR is quite logical and is aimed at stimulation of turnover growth among the EEU member countries, economist Vardan Bostanjyan expressed such opinion in his talk with journalists.
According to him such policy is aimed to reduce the attractiveness of goods produced outside EEU and to grow turnover among EEU member countries. Touching upon the possible contradictions with EU, the expert noted that EU had realized long ago that Armenia had no other alternative than joining EEU and taking this fact into account cooperation of Armenia and EU will continue even in these conditions, everybody pulls the rope to its side and we should do everything not to let it cut. "It is another question whether this is bad or good, but if have signed the agreement with EEU we have to fulfill it", Bostanjyan said.
To note, Eurasian Economic Commission Board will study possible restrictions on the tax-free international online trade, according to the Russian newspapers Vedomosti and Kommersant.
According to Vedomosti, the upper ceiling for the tax-free import into the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries from foreign online shops will be reduced from the current 1,000 EUR to 150 EUR. The Commission looks to impose 25 EUR tax on parcels of any value, the paper writes.
The members of the Commission representing Kazakhtan and Belarus have generally supported the draft decision. Armenia has not presented its stance yet, the source reports referring the protocol of the Board meeting.
Kommerstant, in turn, reports that 15 EUR tax will be imported on parcels cost 22EUR-150EUR and weighting 1kg -10 kg. The goods that cost more than 150 EUR and/or weight more than 10kg will be tax 15 EUR plus 30% of the total customs value but not less than 4 EUR per 1kg weight. Now, Russians can buy goods for 1,000 EUR weighting 31kg tax-free.
The upper ceilings of the tax-free import in the Customs Union countries are different: 1,000 EUR in KazakhstaN, 300 eur IN Armenia, 200 EUR in Belarus. EEU members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.