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Customs Service. During the meeting, heads of customs agreed to optimize the load on existing customs infrastructure by redirecting some vehicles from busier to less congested checkpoints and will consider expanding the list of checkpoints where phytosanitary and veterinary control operate on both sides of the border. It was also agreed to simplify entry into Moldovan territory for trucks without special permits and to establish cooperation between both countries' brokers' associations to speed up customs clearance.
Russian vessels at Mariupol seaport stealing metal. Ukraine on Saturday criticized Russia for sending a ship to the captured Ukrainian city of Mariupol to load a shipment of metal bound for Russia. The Ukrainian parliament's commissioner for human rights, Liudmyla Denisova, said the Russians were "sending 3,000 tons of metal products on the first ship from Mariupol to Rostov-on-Don (in Russia)." The Mariupol seaport administration said the vessel would load 2,700 tons of metal and depart for Rostov-on-Don on Monday. Denisova claims that the Mariupol port housed about 200,000 tons of metal and cast iron worth $170M before Russia invaded Ukraine.
Ukraine has an ambitious goal to join the joint customs space with the EU. Prime Minister Denis Shmygal says that Ukraine expects to join the common customs space with the European Union within a month. The Prime Minister stressed that Ukraine has fulfilled more than 70% of the Association Agreement with the EU. "We have an ambitious goal to join the NCTS - the Common Customs Area, within a month. We are ready for all challenges and ready to implement reforms on our European integration path," said the Ukrainian Prime Minister.
The EU has abolished customs duties on all exports from Ukraine. The EU Council has adopted a provision introducing temporary trade liberalization and other trade concessions on certain Ukrainian goods. This means that import duties on all Ukrainian exports to the European Union will not have to be paid for one year, stated the EU council. Under Section IV of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, all tariffs established by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) have been liberalized. The suspension of custom duties covers, in particular:
● industrial products that are subject to phasing out by the end of 2022;
● fruits and vegetables subject to the input price system, as well as
agricultural products and processed agricultural products subject to
tariff quotas;
● collection of anti-dumping duties on imports from Ukraine;
● application of general import rules for imports originating in Ukraine.
The US has canceled tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year. US President Joe Biden has signed a decree abolishing the 25% additional tariffs on Ukrainian steel imports for one year, announced the White House. “Considering the ongoing security discussions and significant disruption of Ukraine’s ability to produce steel, I conclude that Ukraine’s present situation presents a special case. I have determined to suspend the tariffs outlined in Proclamation 9705 for the import of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine for one year,” said US President Joe Biden. According to him, the steel industry is "historically important to Ukraine," stressing that the United States is "interested in maintaining the industry" to rebuild the country.
Ukraine is preparing to sign a customs-free agreement with the EU. Prime
28 UKRAINE Country Report XXXX 2018 www.intellinews.com