Belarus: temporary tariff increases on a number of products
Description
On 5 May 2009 Belarus introduced temporary higher import tariffs on consumer goods to protect the domestic market and cut imports to counter a growing trade deficit. President Lukashenko signed Decree number # 214 on 21 April 2009 giving legal force to this measure. The Decree introduces two lists of commodities - with six months’ import duties for the former and nine months’ import duties for the latter.
The first list includes meat and poultry by-products (40% of the customs value, and not more than 0.4 euros per kilo), yeast (30%), ice cream (25%), natural grape wines (30%); soap (25%), bags (30%), fiberboard (25%), wallpaper (25%), toilet paper and paper towels (25%), carpets (30%), underwear (30%), tights (25%), sweaters (30%), coats, raincoats, jackets, suits, shirts, blouses (30%), second-hand clothes (30%, and at least 1.1 euros per kilo), refrigerators (25%), washing-machines (25%), microwave ovens (40%), vacuum cleaners (30%), DVD-players (30%), and others (total of 54 four-digits HS tariff lines ). Import duties on textile products (in the first list) will not apply to imports from the European Union, Turkey , Switzerland and Liechtenstein (as a result of a prior Presidential Decree number 68 issued on 8 February 2008).
The second list includes potatos, onions, cabbages, carrots, and beets. Those products are subject to a restrictive 180% import duty for the period of 9 months.
Any Evidence-Based Deliberation:
| Question | Result |
|---|---|
| Is there anything in the public record to suggest that evidence of the effectiveness of the proposed measure was considered during official deliberations? | Don't know |
| Is there any evidence that alternatives to the proposed measure were considered? | Don't Know |
| Is there anything in the public record that suggests that empirical evidence informed the comparison across the alternatives available to government? | Don't Know |
| Was such evidence identified? | Don't Know |
| Is such evidence publicly available? | Don't Know |
| Did the official decision-maker in question provide an explanation as to why a chosen measure was favoured over alternatives? | Don't Know |
| Is there any evidence to suggest that potentially affected trading partners were consulted before the measures were taken? | Don't Know |
| Is there any evidence that safeguards have been put in place to ensure that implementation of the initiative is transparent and non-discriminatory? | Don't Know |
| Did the government state its intention to review the measure within one year of implementation? | Yes |
Date Discovered: 21/07/2009
Implemented: No
Date of inception: 5 May 2009
Duration: 6 months
GTA Evaluation: Red
Source:
Official Gazette of the Republic of Belarus - "Belarus Segodnya" from 5 May 2009. President Decree # 214 from 21 April 2009 "On temporary rates of import tariff on goods". Avalable at < http://law.sb.by/815/ >
Government Response:
- 834 reads
