RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/ACC/BLR/1
16January 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0135)
Original: English
ACCESSION OFBELARUS
Memorandum ontheForeign Trade Régime
TheMemorandum ontheForeign Trade Régime submitted bytheGovernment oftheRepublic
ofBelarus isreproduced hereunder.
_______________
Inaccordance withtheprocedures setoutindocument WT/ACC/1, members arerequested
tocommunicate totheSecretariat by26February 1996, anyquestions theymaywishtoputconcerning
thematters dealtwithinthememorandum, fortransmission totheauthorities oftheRepublic ofBelarus.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page2
TABLE OFCONTENTS
Page No.
I. Introduction 6
II. Economy, Economic Policies andForeign Trade
1. Economy
(a) General description
(b) Current economic situation7
7
7
7
2. Economic policies
(a) Main directions
(b) Monetary andfiscal policies
(c) Foreign exchange andpayments system
(d) Foreign anddomestic investment policies
(e) Competition policies8
8
8
9
10
10
3. Foreign trade ingoods andservices 10
4. Domestic trade inservices 11
5. Financial movements related tonationals working abroad 11
III. Framework forMaking andEnforcing Policies Affecting Foreign
Trade inGoods andTrade inServices
1. Powers ofexecutive, legislative andjudicial branches ofgovernment12
12
2. Government entities responsible formaking andimplementing policies
affecting foreign trade 12
3. Division ofauthority between central andsub-central governments 12
4. Legislative programmes orplans tochange theregulatory regime 13
5. Laws andlegalacts 13
6. Description ofjudicial, arbitral oradministrative tribunals or
procedures 13
IV. Policies Affecting Trade inGoods
1. Import regulation
(a) Registration requirements13
13
13
(b) Characteristics ofnational tariff 13
(c) Tariff quotas, tariff exemptions 14
(d) Other duties andcharges 15
(e) Quantitative import restrictions 15
(f) Import licensing procedure 16
(g) Other border measures 16
(h) Customs valuation 16
(i) Other customs formalities 16
(j) Pre-shipment inspection 16
(k) Application ofinternal taxes onimports 16
(l) Rules oforigin 17
(m) Anti-dumping, countervailing dutyandsafeguard regime 17
2. Export regulation
(a) Registration requirements17
17WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page3
Page No.
(b) Customs tariff nomenclature, types ofduties, dutyrates 17
(c) Quantitative export restrictions 17
(d) Export licensing procedures 18
(e) Other measures 18
(f) Export financing, subsidy andpromotion policies 18
(g) Export performance requirements 18
(h) Import dutydrawback schemes 18
3. Internal policies affecting foreign trade ingoods
(a) Industrial andsubsidy policies18
18
(b) Technical regulations andstandards 19
(c) Sanitary andphytosanitary measures 20
(d) Trade-related investment measures 20
(e) State-trading practices 20
(f) Freezones 21
(g) Freeeconomic zones 21
(h) Trade-related environment policies 21
(i) Mixing regulations 21
(j) Government-mandated counter-trade andbarter 21
(k) Trade agreements leading tocountry-specific quotas allocation 21
(l) Government procurement practices 21
(m) Regulations oftrade intransit 21
4. Policies affecting foreign trade inagricultural products
(a) Imports21
21
(b) Exports 22
(c) Export prohibitions andrestrictions 22
(d) Export credits 22
(e) Internal policies 22
5. Policies affecting foreign trade inother sectors
(a) Textiles regime23
23
(b) Other sectors 23
V. Trade-Related Intellectual Property Regime
1. General
(a) Intellectual property policy23
23
23
(b) Responsible agencies forpolicy formulation andimplementation 23
(c) Membership ofinternational intellectual property conventions 24
(d) Application ofnational andm.f.n. treatment toforeign nationals 24
(e) Feesandtaxes 24
2. Substantive standards ofprotection
(a) Copyright andrelated rights25
25
(b) Trademarks, including service marks 25WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page4
Page No.
(c) Geographical indications, including appellations oforigin 25
(d) Patents forindustrial designs 25
(e) Patents forinventions 25
(f) Plant variety protection 26
(g) Layout designs ofintegrated circuits 26
(h) Requirements onundisclosed information 26
(i) Other categories ofintellectual property 26
3. Measures tocontrol abuse ofintellectual property rights 26
4. Enforcement
(a) Civil juridical procedures andremedies26
26
(b) Provisional measures; administrative procedures andremedies;
special border measures 26
(c) Criminal procedures 27
5. Laws, decrees, regulations andother legalactsrelating totheabove 27
6. Statistical data 27
VI. Trade-Related Services Régime
1. General27
27
2. Policies affecting trade inservices
(a) Government departments, agencies, professional associations27
27
(b) Judicial, arbitral andadministrative tribunals andprocedures 28
(c) Qualification requirements andprocedures, licensing andregistration
requirements 28
(d) Monopolies andexclusive service suppliers 28
(e) Safeguard measures 28
(f) International transfers andpayments forcurrent transactions ofservices 28
(g) Capital transactions affecting thesupply ofservices 29
(h) Government procurement ofservices 29
(i) Consumer subsidies foressential services 29
3. Market access andnational treatment
(a) Limitations onthenumber ofservice suppliers; onthetotalnumber of
service transactions orassets; onthetotalnumber ofservice
operations oronthetotalquantity ofservice output; andonthetotal
number ofnatural persons employed inaparticular service sector29
29
(b) Restrictions ontypeoflegalentity ofservice provider 29
(c) Limitations onparticipation offoreign capital 29
(d) Measures providing forlessthannational treatment 29
4. Most-favoured-nation treatment 30
VII. Institutional Base forTrade andEconomic Relations withThird
Countries
1. Bilateral orplurilateral agreements relating toforeign trade ingoods
andtrade inservices30
30WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page5
Page No.
2. Economic integration, customs union andfree-trade agreements 30
3. Labour markets integration agreements 31
4. Multilateral economic cooperation 31
Annex 1
Table 1Macroeconomic Indicators, 1992-1995
Table 2Commodity composition oftrade withRussia, CISandThird
Countries (1994, percentoftrade witheachcountry group)
Table 3Commodity composition oftrade withRussia, CISandThird
Countries (January -June1995, percentoftrade witheach
country group)
Table 4Regional composition offoreign trade, 1993-1995
(percent)
Table 5Import tariff ratesandlistsofcountries benefitting from
National System ofPreferences (according toResolution of
theCabinet ofMinisters oftheRepublic ofBelarus No.298
of29April 1994 asamended byResolutions oftheCabinet of
Ministers oftheRepublic ofBelarus No.219and340of19
April 1995 and29June1995 respectively)
Table 6Excise taxrates(according toResolution oftheCabinet of
Ministers oftheRepublic ofBelarus
No.252of12May1995 asamended byResolution No.538
of2October 1995)
Table 7Export tariff rates(according toResolution oftheCabinet of
Ministers No.536ofSeptember 29,1995)
Table 8Export rentfortimber (according toResolution oftheCabinet
ofMinisters oftheRepublic ofBelarus No.458of21August
1995)
Table 9Patent fees
Table 10Applications received andregistration ofindustrial property
objects
Table 11Import-weighted average tariff rates32
32
33
34
36
37
71
74
80
81
82
83
Annex 2 Listoflawsandlegalacts 84
Annex 3-Information onImport Licensing Procedures
I. Outline ofsystems
II. Purposes andcoverage oflicensing
III. Procedures
V. Eligibility ofimports toapply forlicence
VI. Documentation andother requirements forapplication forlicences
VII. Conditions oflicensing
VIII. Other procedural requirements87
87
87
87
88
88
88
89
Annex 4-Information onImplementation andAdministration ofthe
Customs Valuation Agreement 90
Annex 5-Information onTechnical Barriers toTrade 94
Annex 6-ListofTrade andInvestment Agreements 96WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page6
I. INTRODUCTION
TheRepublic ofBelarus declared itsindependence fromtheSoviet Union andbecame asovereign
State on27July1991. Being afounding member oftheUnited Nations facilitated rapid recognition
ofBelarus 'independence bytheinternational community.
Since independence, thefocus ofeconomic policy inBelarus hasbeenontransforming theformer
central planning system intoamarket economy. Thistaskhasbeencomplicated, however, byseveral
obstacles thatareonlygradually being overcome. Many enterprises werecutofffrom theirsupplies
ofinputs orfromtheirexport markets when thetradeandpayment system intheformer Soviet Union
disintegrated.Dependingalmostcompletelyonenergyimports,Belarusalsosufferedamajordeterioration
initsterms oftrade duetorising import prices forenergy from 1992 onwards. Lastbutnotleast,
politicalinstitutionsinBelarusneededtoaccumulateexperienceinordertodesignandimplementpolicies
inareas forwhich theyhadpreviously notbeenresponsible, suchasmacroeconomic management,
taxation andexternal economic relations.
RadioactivecontaminationduetoChernobylnuclearaccident(Belarusreceivedalmost70percent
ofthetotalradioactive fallout) alsocontinues toimpose aheavy burden inhumanitarian aswellas
infiscal terms. Asaresult, inrecent years approximately 15percentofthecentral government budget
went towards alleviating theimpact ofthiscontamination, forexample through theresettlement of
thepopulation from themost contaminated areas, theprovision ofadditional medial care, andthe
decontamination ofaffected areas.
Asaresult ofthese difficulties, themacroeconomic situation inBelarus since 1991 hasbeen
characterized byasharp decline ingross domestic product, coupled withhighinflation. Atthesame
time, however, considerable progress hasbeenmade increating theinstitutional infrastructure fora
market economy. AnewConstitution hasdefined thedivision ofresponsibilities among thelegislative,
executive andjudiciary branches. Allenterprises havebeenmade independent fromthegovernment,
thesystem ofpriceregulation hasbeensignificantly modified, privatization hasbeeninitiated, thetax
system wasreformed, andatwo-tier banking system wascreated.
Policyreformaimedatmacroeconomicstabilizationandstructuraladjustmentgatheredmomentum
during thesecond halfof1994. Anencompassing programme ofreforms wasformulated byatask
force representing notonlygovernment andmajor political groups, butalsoemployer federations and
tradeunions. Thisprogramme became thebasisforanagreement between theBelarusian government
andtheInternational Monetary Fund concluded inDecember 1994. Belarus commits itself, interalia,
tocuttingitsbudgetdeficitthroughfurtherreductionsinconsumersubsidies,tophasingoutStatesupport
forenterprises through directed credits, andtospeeding upprivatization. Together withthesubstantial
financialsupportpledgedbytheIMFandtheWorldBank,thesemeasuresareexpectedtoreducemonthly
inflation ratesfrom more than30percentinthelastquarter of1994 tolessthan3percentbythe
lastquarter of1995.
Thelong-term success ofeconomic reform hinges upontheintegration oftheBelarusian economy
intotheinternational division oflabour. TheBelarusian government isaware thatBelarus, asasmall
economy, willbenefit greatly frommaintaining openmarkets forimported goods andservices. Atthe
same time, theBelarusian economy canonly specialize according toitsinternational comparative
advantage ifithasaccess toother countries 'markets. Therefore theBelarusian government attaches
highpriority tothecountry 'saccession totheWorld Trade Organization.
ThisMemorandum contains detailed information ontheBelarusian economy, theforeign trade
regime andtrade-related policies. Itisintended tofacilitate thedeliberations oftheWorking PartyWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page7
ontheaccession ofBelarus totheWTO. TheGovernment oftheRepublic ofBelarus isready toprovide
anyadditional information thatgovernments represented intheWorking Party mayrequest.
II. ECONOMY, ECONOMIC POLICIES AND FOREIGN TRADE
1. Economy
(a) General description
TheRepublic ofBelarus issituated inthecentre oftheEuropean continent, bordering onPoland
intheWest, Lithuania andLatvia intheNorth-West, Russia intheNorth andEast, andUkraine in
theSouth. Itslandareais207,600 km2, stretching 560kmnorth tosouth, and650kmwesttoeast.
Theterrain ispredominantly plain, andtheclimate moderately continental. Theaverage temperature
inBelarus isabout 18CinJulyandminus 6CinJanuary. Thecapital ofBelarus, Minsk, ishome
toroughly onefifthofthecountry 's10,3million inhabitants (47percentmen, 53percentwomen).
Urbanization isontheincrease: 68percentofthepopulation nowliveinurban areas compared with
43percentin1970. Thedensity ofthepopulation isabout 50people perkm2, which isalittlelower
thantheEuropean average of67.Theofficial languages ofthecountry areBelarusian andRussian.
Themost widely usedbusiness languages areRussian, English andGerman.
Thelargest rivers inBelarus aretheDnieper, theWestern Dvina, theNiemen, andtheBug.
Thecountry hasalarge number oflakes ofwhich 280arelarger than1km2. Belarus isfamous for
itsforests, which cover about one-third ofitsterritory. Almost halftheterritory isusedforagriculture
(9.3mlnha),ofwhich 67percentisarable land. Duetoradioactive fallout from theChernobyl '
accident, 3.2percentoftheterritory isunsuitable forhuman habitation, and4.4percentofarable
land(264000 ha)cannot beusedforagricultural purposes. Asaresult, approximately 130,000 people
hadtobeevacuated fromthemostcontaminated areas from1986through 1994, withafurther 33,000
people toberesettled overthenext3years.
Belarus hasextensive non-metallic mineral resources (other thanenergy materials), ofwhich
potassium isthemostcommercially important. Itspotassium output of4.17mlntonsin1994amounted
to11percentofworld production. Thecountry depends onimports formost ofitsenergy needs;
theshare ofimports indomestic consumption isroughly 98percentfornatural gas,91percentfor
petroleum, and100percentforbituminous coal. Local deposits ofprimary power sources include
peat, petroleum, oilshales, andbrown coal.
Oftheworking population ofBelarus of6million in1994, 39percentwereemployed inindustry
andconstruction. Themostimportant branches ofindustry arenon-electrical andelectrical machinery
andelectronics; transport equipment; thepetro-chemical industry; andthefoodandlightindustries.
Onefifthoftheworking population areengaged inagriculture, where cattle breeding, flaxandpotatoes
areparticularly important. Almost 2percentofthework force wereregistered asunemployed atthe
endofJune1995.
(b) Current economic situation
Since 1991 theBelarusian economy hascontracted sharply andatthesame timeexperienced
highinflation (Table 1).Inthissense thesituation issimilar tomostformer centrally planned economies
thatembarked onthetransition toamarket economy. InBelarus thesituation wasaggravated, however,
bytheextent oftheintegration ofmanufacturing industry intothedivision oflabour among themember
republics oftheformer Soviet Union, andbytheparticularly large deterioration intheterms oftrade
duetorising import prices forenergy materials.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page8
Thereform programme implemented since late1994 hasledtoasharp decline ininflation.
While themonthly ratewas39percentinJanuary 1995, itfelltobelow 6percentinAugust and
isexpected todecline further.
2. Economic policies
(a) Main directions
Themainobjectives ofeconomic policy inBelarus during thecoming years canbecategorized
under theheadings ofmacroeconomic stabilization, economic restructuring, andinstitutional reform.
Intheareaofmacroeconomic adjustment, significant progress hasbeenmade onthemeasures agreed
withtheIMF inlate1994. Most importantly, preferential credit from theNational Bank tothe
governmentandenterpriseshasbeencurtailedsubstantially,andalldirectsubsidieshavebeenterminated.
Thegovernment budget deficit willbereduced through expenditure cuts, andtheremaining deficit
willbefinancedinanon-inflationarymannerthroughgovernmentbondsandcreditsfromtheinternational
financial institutions. Therefinancing rateforNational Bankcredit tocommercial banks issetmonthly
onthebasis offorecast inflation, andhasbeenpositive inrealterms since March 1995.
Thecoreofeconomic restructuring istheadjustment ofenterprises tochanging relative prices
forinputs andoutputs andtheimposition ofgreater financial discipline. Domestic prices forallgoods,
including agricultural products (except some alcoholic drinks), havebeenfullyliberalized, andallprice
subsidies except forsome essential consumer services (local transport, residential heating) havebeen
abolished. Theremaining preferential credits fromthegovernment budget toenterprises willbestrictly
targeted towards theconversion ofmilitary production facilities tocivilian useandthedevelopment
oftheprivate agricultural sector.
Bothmacroeconomic stabilization andeconomic restructuring depend oninstitutional reforms
inkeyareas. 15percentofallState property (excluding housing andland) hasbeenprivatized, and
another 15percentwillfollow bytheendof1995. Allenterprises inwholesale trade havealready
beenprivatized. Inretail trade, many largeenterprises havebeenconverted intojoint-stock companies,
andinallenterprisesfinancialresponsibilitynowrestswiththemanagement.TheBelarusiangovernment
alsoattaches great importance todeveloping anactive competition policy andtomaintaining anopen
foreign trade regime inorder toensure thatdomestic markets areopentocompetition.
(b) Monetary andfiscal policies
Theprimary emphasis ofmacroeconomic policy inBelarus isonreducing inflation from the
unsustainably highlevel reached during thelastquarter of1994. Themonthly inflation ratewas
26percentinOctober, 41percentinNovember, and31percentinDecember 1994. Atatechnical
level, highinflation wasmainly theresult ofcredit expansion bytheNational Bank ofBelarus. Inthe
absence ofsufficient domestic savings, central bank credit wasusedtofinance asignificant portion
ofthegovernmentbudgetdeficit.Furthermore,theNationalbankprovidedworkingcapitaltoenterprises
atnegative realinterest ratesintheform ofdirected credit, inorder toavoid yetmore disruption of
economic activity.
TheBelarusian government hasconcluded anagreement withtheIMFinlate1994 which sets
aceiling onthenarrow government budget deficit of4percentofGDP in1995(vs.anactual figure
of6percentin1994). Nomore thanhalfthedeficit istobefinanced bycentral bankcredit (vs.almost
twothirds in1994) atapositive realinterest rateof6.5per centpermonth.
Implementation ofthisprogramme involves considerable social constraints asconsumer subsidies
forheating, rentsandpublic transport arebeing cutfurther tomeettheagreed targets forgovernment
expenditure. Itisexpected, however, thatwithabasic social safety netnowinplace, andwiththeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page9
substantial financial support provided bytheIMF(cf.Section II.2.c below), monthly inflation rates
willbereduced to3percentbythelastquarter of1995.
Atwo-tier banking system wasestablished inBelarus in1991 byseparating thecentral and
commercial bankfunctions previously performed bytheformer StateBank oftheSoviet Union. Today
there are46commercial banks, mostofwhich arenewly founded institutions owned byavariety of
enterprises, cooperatives andindividuals. Thecommercial banks aresupervised bytheNational Bank
ofBelarus onthebasisofprudential regulations thatarecontinuously refined toaccount forthegrowing
scope oftheactivities ofcommercial banks. Commercial banks inBelarus today provide aworking
payment system fornational, intra-CIS andinternational transactions along withmany other banking
services. Their roleinenterprise finance, especially long-term investment, however, isstilllimited.
Thisisduenotonlytooverall macroeconomic instability, butalsotothebanks 'limited experience
inareas suchascredit riskappraisal. TheBelarusian government therefore attaches great importance
tofurther financial sector development.
(c) Foreign exchange andpayments system
TheBelarusian ruble waseffectively separated from theRussian ruble inmid-1992 when the
payments system among theformer member republics oftheSoviet Union became bilateralized. A
unified,market-determinedexchangerateregimehasbeeninforcesince1December1993.TheNational
Bank registers theofficial exchange ratesofforeign currencies (mainly theUSDollar, theDeutsche
Mark andtheRussian Ruble) onthebasis ofauctions held5times aweek attheinter-bank currency
exchange. TheBelarusian ruble became thesolelegal tender oftheRepublic ofBelarus inOctober
1994. Since 1January 1995 thesettlement ofaccounts among residents inforeign currency isnot
normally permitted.
TheBelarusian ruble isconvertible forpractically allcurrent transactions between residents and
non-residents. Capital transfers bylegalpersons require priorauthorization bytheNational Bank, which
willbegranted ifthetransfer isconsidered tobeintheinterest ofBelarus. Natural persons maypurchase
andsellcurrency through theexchange offices ofauthorized commercial banks andcertain enterprises.
Legal persons maybuyforeign currency attheinter-bank currency exchange topayforimport contracts,
travel expenses, interest onforeign credits, ortorepay loans. There arenotaxes orduties onforeign
exchange operations.
Inorder toprevent illegal capital flight, exporters ofgoods andservices arerequired toindicate
intheircustoms declarations through which banktheywillreceive payments fromabroad, aswellas
theapproximate datesofpayments. TheStateCustoms Committee notifies banks oftheexpected receipts
offoreigncurrency.BanksarerequiredtoinformtheMinistryofForeignEconomicRelationsifpayment
isnotreceived within 30daysoftheexpected date.
Allexport earnings infreely convertible currency aresubject toa15percenttax.Export earnings
infreely convertible currencies maybedeposited totheexporter 'sforeign currency account. Barter
transactions aresubject toa10percenttax.
TheRepublic ofBelarus became amember oftheInternational Monetary Fundin1992. Technical
assistance wasreceived from theIMF, inparticular, bytheNational Bank inthefieldofbanking
supervision, andbytheMinistry ofFinance intheareas oftaxadministration, budget formulation,
thecreation ofatreasury office, andbalance ofpayment statistics. Intheframework oftheSystemic
Transformation Facility, Belarus received afirstcredit tranche of70.1million SDR (98.0 million
USdollars) inAugust 1993, asecond credit tranche of101.7 million US.$ inFebruary 1995. Inlate
1994 theBelarusian government andtheIMFsigned anagreement onastrategy formacroeconomicWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page10
stabilization. Anagreement onastand-by credit (246.4 million USdollars) wasconcluded with the
IMFinSeptember 1995. Firstcredit tranche of66.5US.$ wasreceived inSeptember 1995.
(d) Foreign anddomestic investment policies
Gross investment inBelarus hasdeclined sharply inrecent years. Government investment was
curtailed bytheneed tocontain expenditures, andisnowconcentrated onthetransport and
communications infrastructure, andontheliquidation oftheconsequences oftheChernobyl catastrophe.
Investment byenterprises isalsoverysmall because oftheunstable macroeconomic situation. Itis
expected thatmacroeconomic stabilization (cf.Section II.2.b above) willinduecourse permit investment
torecover.
Special measures havebeentaken toattract direct foreign investment toBelarus onthebasis
ofthelaw"OnForeign Investment intheRepublic ofBelarus" of14November 1991withamendments
of16June1993. Foreign investors aregranted national treatment. Investment intheformofimported
capital goods isexempt from customs duties. Profits maybefreely repatriated.
Foreign investment mayeither taketheformofJointVentures withBelarusian partners, orof
wholly foreign-owned enterprises. Enterprises withforeign investment equal toatleast30percent
ofequity, except trading firms, areexempt fromtaxes onprofits fromthesaleoftheirownproducts
andservices forthefirst3years fromthedateatwhich apositive profit wasdeclared forthefirsttime.
Ifanylegislation ischanged tothedisadvantage oftheforeign investor, thelawsinforce atthetime
when theenterprise withforeign investment wasregistered shallcontinue tobeapplied forfiveyears
from thedateofregistration ("grandfather 'sclause").
Toimprove thebusiness climate forforeign investors, theBelarusian government encourages
thefurther development ofmanagerial services through specialized bankinstitutions, investment and
pension funds, insurance companies, broker andinspection firms, aswellastheexpansion ofthecapital
market.
(e) Competition policies
TheLaw"OnCounteractingMonopolismandEncouragingCompetition"adoptedbytheSupreme
Council on10December 1992promotes competition among enterprises andfacilitates theprivatization
ofState-owned property. TheGovernment isprohibited from setting upenterprises withmonopoly
rights, except inthecaseofnatural monopolies (seeSection VI(2) d).TheMinistry onAnti-Monopoly
Policies isresponsible fordeveloping thecompetitive environment byprohibiting abuses ofdominant
positions andanti-competitive agreements among firms, andbyexercising control overmergers and
other forms ofbusiness concentration.
3. Foreign trade ingoods andservices
UntilJanuary1995theMinistryofStatisticsandAnalysisofBelarusmaintainedseparatestatistics
forthetrade ofBelarus withtheCIScountries ontheonehand, andwiththeremaining countries on
theother. There aretwomainreasons whythishistorically determined separation haspersisted. First,
theregulations governing CISandthird country trade haveonlyconverged in1994. Partly forthis
reason theHarmonized System isusedtoclassify commodities intrade withthirdcountries, whereas
atraditional commodity classification wasusedinCIStrade. Second, statistical records ontradeflows
across theborder between Russia andBelarus arestillquiteimperfect, andfailtodistinguish carefully
between transit trade through Belarus andimports intoBelarus. Therefore thetrade figures published
bytheMinistry ofStatistics andAnalysis arebased onenterprise surveys rather thancustoms data.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page11
Based ontheavailable information, Table 2and3present theforeign trade ofBelarus by
commodity groups, distinguishing between trade withRussia, theother CIScountries, andnon-CIS
countries. Themain exports ofBelarus aremineral products (mostly refined oilproducts), chemical
products(includingpotassiumfertilizer),textilesandtextilearticles,andcapitalgoods.Themainimports
aremineralproducts(mostlyenergymaterials)thatareimportedmainlyfromRussia,chemicalproducts,
andbasemetals andmetal products. Table 4describes thecountry structure oftheforeign trade of
Belarus. Russia accounts forapproximately halftheexports andthree fourths oftheimports. Other
important trading partners aretheEuropean Union, Ukraine, andPoland.
Foreign trade inservices issmall, andthecoverage oftheavailable statistics isstilllimited.
Registeredexportsofservicesamountedto18.6millionUSdollarsin1994;importsofservicesamounted
to25.6million USdollars.
4. Domestic trade inservices
According totheNational Accounts datathathavebeenproduced since theearly 1990s, the
service sector accounts forapproximately 30percentofGDP. Theshare ofthelabour force employed
intheservice sector ishigher atapproximately 42percent.Services inthesphere ofgoods production
account forroughly 15percentofbothGDP andtotalemployment, andinclude mainly transport,
distribution, andcatering. Inrecent years, theoutput ofthetransport sector hasshrunk because of
theeconomic crisis. Freight transport declined byalmost onehalf,andpassenger transport byclose
toonefifth. Theremainder oftheservice sector ismade upmainly ofpublic education (3percent
ofGDP), housing andmunicipal services (3percentofGDP), andhealth careandsports (2percent
ofGDP).
Thefinancial services sector isonlygradually evolving. Available banking services include a
well-functioningpaymentssystemfordomestic,intra-CISandinternationaltransactions,foreigncurrency
accounts, factoring, leasing, working capital loans, andtrade finance. Money andcapital markets,
including long-term investment finance, areatanearlystageofdevelopment, however. Approximately
60insurance companies offer awiderange oflifeandnon-life insurance.
TheGovernment 'sgeneral long-term policy forservices istoaccelerate thedevelopment ofthe
transport infrastructure andtelecommunications, offinancial services, andofapplied research and
development. Asregards policy instruments, theemphasis isonliberalization, privatization andprivate
sector development, andanti-monopoly regulation. While theprocess ofeconomic reform hasbeen
relatively slowonthewhole, progress intheservices sector, especially onprivate sector development,
hasbeenmore rapidthanelsewhere. Thiscanbeexplained, first,bythegreater number ofopportunities
thatexistforsmall andmedium-sized enterprises toenterthemarket forexample infinancial services,
roadtransport, distribution, andtourism. Secondly, analmost newsector offinancial andbusiness
services isevolving onthebasis ofmarket principles.
Detailed statistics onforeign investment intheservice sector arenotavailable. Itisapparent,
however, thatthemajority ofenterprises withforeign investment intheservice sector havebeenset
upinrelatively labour-intensive branches, suchastrade, scientific research, automobile repair and
transport, tourism, project andconstruction work, medicine, financial services, marketing, andbusiness
consultancy.
5. Financial movements related tonationals working abroad
Belarus obtains labour-related income fromnationals whohavemigrated tocountries withhigher
income levels. Asthismigration hasdeveloped onlyrecently andbecause income isrepatriated mainly
incashform, aprecise calculation oftheflows involved isnotavailable.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page12
III. FRAMEWORK FOR MAKING AND ENFORCING POLICIES AFFECTING FOREIGN
TRADE INGOODS AND TRADE INSERVICES
1. Powers ofexecutive, legislative andjudicial branches ofgovernment
InaccordancewiththeConstitutionoftheRepublicofBelarusadoptedon15March1994,Belarus
isademocratic Statebased ontheruleoflaw.Under theConstitution sovereign Statepower isvested
inthepeople ofBelarus, andisexercised bytheSupreme Council (Parliament), thePresident, the
Government, andtheCourts.
TheStatesystem ofBelarus isbased ontheprinciple ofdivision ofpower among thelegislative,
theexecutive, andthejudiciary. State bodies areindependent within thelimits oftheirpowers.
TheSupreme Council (Parliament) isaunicameral body elected bythecitizens ofBelarus for
fiveyears onthebasisofuniversal, equal, anddirect suffrage. TheSupreme Council enacts amendments
totheConstitution, enacts laws, approves theStatebudget, ratifies anddenounces international treaties,
andconsiders other issues ofdomestic andforeign policy. TheSupreme Council alsoappoints the
Chairman oftheNational Bank ofBelarus andreceives hisreports ontheactivities oftheNational
Bank. However, theNational Bank isindependent from theSupreme Council orGovernment inits
conduct ofmonetary policy.
ThePresident istheheadofState, andatthesame timetheheadoftheexecutive. ThePresident
iselected forafive-year termonthebasisofuniversal, equal anddirect suffrage bysecret ballot. The
President exercises hispower byissuing Presidential Decrees, which shallbeinaccordance withthe
lawsadopted bytheSupreme Council. Ifaparticular matter isnotlegislated upon, thePresident may
regulate thematter byDecree. However, alawadopted bytheSupreme Council atalaterstage would
takeprecedence overthePresidential Decree.
Themembers oftheGovernment ofBelarus (Cabinet ofMinisters) areappointed bythePresident
(some withtheconsent oftheSupreme Council) toexercise executive power inthefields oftheeconomy,
social policy, foreign policy, defense, andpublic order. TheGovernment mayissueitsownregulations
toimplement lawsandPresidential Decrees.
Judicial power isvested inthecommon andeconomic courts. Compliance oflaws, Presidential
Decrees, other regulations andinternational treaties withtheBelarusian Constitution issupervised by
theConstitutional Court. Common courts existatthedistrict (city), regional ("oblast") andnational
levels; thenational court isnamed theSupreme Court. They handle allcriminal cases aswellascivil
lawsuits between private individuals. Economic courts (attheregional andnational levels; thelatter
iscalled theSupreme Economic Court) areresponsible foralldisputes involving economic agents,
including complaints byeconomic agents against decisions ofState bodies.
2. Government entities responsible formaking andimplementing policies affecting foreign
trade
InBelarus theessentials offoreign trade policy arelaiddown inlaws, Presidential Decrees,
andResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters. Individual ministries, especially theMinistry ofEconomy,
theMinistryofFinance,theMinistryofForeignEconomicRelations,andtheStateCustomsCommittee,
mayestablish rulesofprocedure through administrative orders andinstructions based ontherelevant
lawsanddecrees.
3. Division ofauthority between central andsub-central governments
Allpolicies affecting foreign trade aretheresponsibility ofthecentral government.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page13
4. Legislative programmes orplans tochange theregulatory regime
There arenoplans forchanges intheregulatory regime orinstitutional framework forforeign
trade policy.
5. Laws andlegal acts
Alistoflawsandlegalactsaffecting economic activity ingeneral, aswellasforeign trade in
goods andservices inparticular, isfound inAnnex 2.
6. Description ofjudicial, arbitral oradministrative tribunals orprocedures
Alldecisions byStatebodies affecting theeconomic interests ofeconomic agents maybeappealed
inaneconomic court. Theeconomic courtwillexamine whether thedecision inquestion isinaccordance
withthelaw.
Onavoluntary basis, parties tocertain contracts mayagree tousetheInternational Arbitrage
attached totheBelarusian Chamber ofCommerce andIndustry fordispute settlement. TheInternational
Arbitrage maybecalled upon tosettle disputes between Belarusian economic agents ontheonehand
andnon-residents ontheother, disputes between non-residents, anddisputes inwhich atleastoneside
isaBelarusian enterprise withforeign investment.
IV. POLICIES AFFECTING TRADE INGOODS
1. Import regulation
(a) Registration requirements
There arenoregistration requirements forengaging inimporting.
(b) Characteristics ofnational tariff
On3February 1993 theParliament ofBelarus adopted theCustoms Code ofBelarus andthe
LawontheCustoms Tariff, which entered intoforce on1July1993and23March 1993respectively.
TheLawontheCustoms Tariff regulates procedures fortheapplication ofthecustoms tariff, while
theCustoms Code constitutes thefundamental basisofthecustoms procedures, general rulesoncustoms
regimes andformalities.
Thecurrent import tariff ratesarecontained inResolution No.298oftheCabinet ofMinisters
issued on29April 1995 “OnCustoms Tariff oftheRepublic ofBelarus ”asamended byResolutions
oftheCabinet ofMinisters ofBelarus No219and340of19April and29June1995. Thetrade-weighted
averages ofimport duties is.....; Most ratesareintherange from 0to30percent;higher rates
apply mainly tospirits (HS2207; 2208) at100percent. Most import duties aread-valorem rates
andarecalculated onthebasisofcustoms value (CIF). Minimum duties aresetforsome commodities
(forwhich advalorem ratesarenormally applied )intheformofspecific tariffs denominated inECUs
perphysical quantity. Specific tariffs areapplied tocertain agricultural commodities.
TheBelarusianCommodityNomenclatureforExternalEconomicActivityisbasedonandcomplies
withtheInternational Convention ontheHarmonized Commodity Description andCoding System (HS).
Itwasadjusted tochanges andadditions inthetextoftheHSintroduced bytheWorld Customs
Organization asof1January 1992.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page14
TheLawontheCustoms Tariff provides forfollowing types ofrates:
- conventional (MFN) rateswhich aresetbyResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters No.340
of29June1995 (seeAnnex 1,Table 5);
- autonomous rates(atdouble theMFN rates) which areapplied togoods originating from
countries which donotenjoy Most Favoured Nation orpreferential treatment intrade
withBelarus; autonomous ratesarealsoapplied inrelation togoods whose country of
origin isnotdefined;
- individual rates, which maybeeither preferential orspecial.
Preferential customs duties areapplied togoods:
- originating inStates which formwiththeRepublic ofBelarus acustoms union orafree
trade area; currently imports fromallCISmember countries areexempt fromtariffs on
thebasis ofthemultilateral CISfreetrade agreement;
- originating incountries thatbenefit fromtheGeneralized System ofPreferences (athalf
theMFN ratesfordeveloping countries, andatazerorateforleastdeveloped countries;
seeAnnex 1,Table 5forlistofcountries); suchimports must beaccompanied bya
certificate oforigin (Form A);
- circulating inborder trade.
There isalegal possibility ofestablishing individual special duties under thefollowing
circumstances:
- asaprotective measure ifanyproduct isimported intothecustoms territory ofBelarus
insuchincreased quantities andunder suchconditions astocause orthreaten aserious
injury todomestic producers ofthelikeorofdirectly competitive product;
- asacounter-measure authorized under theWTO todiscriminatory actions against Belarus.
Thislegalclause constitutes thebasisforthefuture imposition ofanti-dumping orcountervailing
duties orsafeguard measures. There havenotbeenanycases ofapplication ofsuchduties. Therates
ofspecial customs duties aretobeestablished foreachindividual caseandshalldepend ontheextent
oftheinjury caused orthenature ofdiscriminatory actions. IfBelarus introduces anti-dumping or
countervailing duties orsafeguard measures inthefuture, itwilldosoonthebasisofspecial legislation
thatwillbedeveloped inaccordance withtherelevant provisions oftheWTO Multilateral Agreements.
(c) Tariff quotas, tariff exemptions
Thepresent legislation doesnotprovide fortheimposition oftariff quotas.
Goods areexempt from payment ofimport tariffs under thefollowing conditions:
- goods imported byaforeign investor toformthefixedcapital oftheenterprise withforeign
investment;
- personal property offoreign workers inenterprises withforeign investment;WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page15
- goods circulating inborder trade;
- goods imported temporarily, orforcustoms storage;
- currency oftheRepublic ofBelarus, foreign currency andsecurities;
- transport means crossing thecustoms border during international transportation ofcargo,
luggage andpassengers, aswellastheircomponent equipment, accessories, spare parts
andfuelrequired fornormal operation;
- goods procured bytheState;
- goods originating inthecustoms territory ofBelarus, imported backintothisterritory
without processing orreprocessing;
- goodsreimportedintothecustomsterritoryofBelaruswhichhavebeenpreviouslyexported
withanobligation oftheirre-importation;
- goods produced infreecustoms zones located intheterritory oftheRepublic ofBelarus
anddesigned tobeusedinthisterritory oroutside it;
- goods intransit;
- humanitarian aiddistributed freetothepopulation ofBelarus.
(d) Other duties andcharges
ACustoms Clearance Charge iscollected atthefollowing rates: halfamonthly minimum salary
ifthevalue oftheshipment isbetween 10and100minimum salaries; oneminimum salary ifthevalue
ofashipment isbetween 100and500minimum salaries; three minimum salaries ifthevalue ofthe
shipment isover500minimum salaries. (On1July1995 oneminimal salary inBelarus wasequal
toapproximately 5US-$.)
TheCustoms Clearance Charge isnotcollected ongoods procured bytheState, oronitems
imported ashumanitarian aid.
(e) Quantitative import restrictions
There arenoimport quotas.
There arecertain limited import restrictions inaccordance withArticles XXandXXIof
GATT 1994 related totheprotection ofpublic morals; ofhuman, animal, andplant lifeandhealth;
andecological safety (Resolutions oftheCabinet ofMinisters No.213of1December 1994andNo.458
of21August 1995). Licences arerequired forimports ofchemical plant protectants, andforimports
ofindustrial waste andslag. Import prohibitions apply toindustrial radioactive waste, toxic waste,
andother waste which cannot bereprocessed inBelarus; aswellastoprinted matter, audio, video
andsimilar materials which maycause damage topublic morals orhuman health, ortheStatesecurity
ofBelarus.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page16
(f) Import licensing procedure
LicencesforimportsofchemicalplantprotectantsareissuedbytheMinistryofForeignEconomic
Relations uponprior authorization bytheMinistry ofAgriculture; those forindustrial waste andslag
areissued bytheMinistry ofForeign Economic Relations afterprior authorization bytheMinistry
ofEcology. Refer toAnnex 3fordetails.
(g) Other border measures
There arenoother border measures restricting imports intoBelarus.
(h) Customs valuation
Therules forcustoms valuation ofimports intoBelarus arecontained inResolution No.278
oftheCabinet ofMinisters of28April 1994. They arefullyconsistent withtheAgreement onthe
Implementation ofArticle VIIofGATT 1994. They provide forsixmethods ofcustoms valuation,
ofwhich thefirstmethod based onthetransaction value oftheimported goods shallbethemajor method.
(i) Other customs formalities
Customs procedures inBelarus comply withtheprovisions oftheInternational Convention on
Simplification andHarmonization ofCustoms Procedures (Kyoto). Depending ontherequested type
ofcustoms treatment, thefollowing procedures mayberequired inaddition tothose mentioned inthe
preceding sections:
- acustoms declaration ofgoods through submission oftheSingle Administrative Document
orCarnet T.I.R. oraconsignment note, aspecification, andinvoice oranother
accompanying document;
- documentation thattheapplicant isinrightful possession ofthegoods tobeimported,
forexample acontract orapro-forma invoice;
- payment ofthecustoms duty, customs userfee,excise andvalue-added taxes;
- certain controls (examination, inspection, expertise), forexample those related tosanitary
andphytosanitary measures;
- acertificate oforigin forgoods originating inStates withwhich Belarus hasconcluded
freetrade agreements, orwhich benefit from tariff preferences.
(j) Pre-shipment inspection
Belarus hasnolegalregulations onpre-shipment inspection. Ituses, however, theservices of
theSociété Générale deSurveillance. On1July1994, Belstandard (Committee onStandardization,
Metrology andCertification) signed afive-year agreement onpreshipment inspection withtheSociete
Generale deSurveillance buttheagreement doesnotgrant exclusive rights totheSociete. Pre-shipment
inspections arecarried outinanon-discriminatory manner.
(k) Application ofinternal taxes onimports
Theinternal taxes onimports arethevalue added tax(VAT) andtheexcise tax.TheVAT was
introduced bytheLaw"OnValue Added Tax"of19December 1991, andischarged onbothdomesticWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page17
andimported goods andservices atanormal rateof20percent.Alower rateof10percentapplies
toagricultural products. Certain essential goods andservices areexempt from VAT (some foods,
children 'sgoods, fuel,municipal transport, cultural andeducation services).
Theexcise taxwasintroduced bytheLaw“OnExcise Tax”of19December 1991, andischarged
oncertain domestic andimported goods andservices atratesranging from 10to75percent.
Internal indirect taxesarelevied onimported goods except goods fromCIScountries. Allexports
inhardcurrency arenotsubject tointernal indirect taxes. Theratesoftheexcise taxforindividual
commodities arelisted inTable 6.They arethesame fordomestic andimported products.
(l) Rules oforigin
Therules forthedetermination ofthecountry oforigin ofgoods arelaiddown inResolution
No.420oftheCabinet ofMinisters of6June1994. They comply withtheInternational Convention
ontheSimplification andHarmonization ofCustoms Procedures (Kyoto). Rules oforigin aredefined
interms ofwholly originating products, achange intariffheading (atthe4-digit leveloftheHarmonized
System), process criteria, andthevalue-added criterion. Certificates oforigin forBelarusian goods
areissued bytheChamber ofCommerce andIndustry ofBelarus.
(m) Anti-dumping, countervailing duty, andsafeguard regime
TheLawontheCustoms Tariff provides forspecial customs duties tobelevied ifanyproduct
isimported intoBelarus insuchincreased quantities andunder suchconditions astocause orthreaten
aserious injury todomestic producers ofthelikeorofdirectly competitive product; orasa
counter-measure, authorized under theWTO, todiscriminatory actions against theBelarus bytrading
partners (cf.Section IV.1.b above). Thislegalclause mayconstitute thebasisforthefuture imposition
ofanti-dumping orcountervailing duties, orofsafeguard measures. Sofar,however, ithasnever been
invoked. IfBelarus introduces antidumping orcountervailing duties orsafeguard measures inthefuture,
itwilldosoonthebasis ofspecial legislation thatwillbedeveloped inaccordance withtherelevant
provisions oftheWTO Multilateral Agreements.
2. Export regulation
(a) Registration requirements
There arenoregistration requirements forengaging inexporting.
(b) Customs tariff nomenclature, types ofduties, dutyrates
Resolution No.536oftheCabinet ofMinisters of29September 1995establishes export duties
foranumber ofrawmaterials andfoodstuffs. Theexport tariffs areeither advalorem duties orspecific
duties expressed inECUs perunit.Thecommodity classification follows theHarmonized System (HS).
Tables 7and8listthetypes andratesofdutyapplied. Export duties areintended tocreate budgetary
revenue andprevent shortages onthedomestic market.
Export duties arenotapplied toexports toRussia under theProtocol of6January 1995
implementing afreetraderegime between Russia andBelarus which covers alltradewithout exception.
(c) Quantitative export restrictions
Export quotas areestablished byResolution No.213of1December 1994 oftheCabinet of
Ministers forcrude oilandrefinery products; fertilizers; ferrous andnon-ferrous metal waste andscrap.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page18
Quotas aresetbytheMinistry ofEconomy inorder toensure asufficient supply ofgoods inthedomestic
market andprevent yetmore disruption ofindustrial production.
Itisprohibited toexport wildplants withmedicinal applications orrawmaterials from such
plants, rareplants andanimals, works ofartandantiques ofmuseum value (goods ofnomuseum
value maybeexported withaspecial permit oftheMinistry ofCulture).
(d) Export licensing procedures
Licences forexports subject toaquota areissued bytheMinistry ofForeign Economic Relations.
Producers ofgoods subject toaquota mayapply totheMinistry ofEconomy toobtain anexport quota.
Allother economic agents mayalsoexport aproduct subject toaquota through anagreement with
aproducer within theproducer 'squota.
Exports ofprecious stones andmetals require alicence fromtheMinistry ofForeign Economic
Relations which isissued onthebasisapermit fromtheCommittee onPrecious Metals andPrecious
Stones oftheMinistry ofFinance. Thisruleisintended toprevent illicit capital transfers abroad.
(e) Other measures
There arenoother measures restricting exports fromBelarus, suchasminimum export prices,
voluntary export restrictions, ororderly marketing arrangements.
(f) Export financing, subsidy andpromotion policies
Exports inexchange forfreely convertible currency areexempt from value added andexcise
taxes; profits from suchexports aretaxed athalfthenormal ratesofprofit tax(Law of19October
1994 "OnAmendments totheTaxation Legislation inForce" andLawof29December 1994 "On
Amendments andAdditions toLaws oftheRepublic ofBelarus onTaxation").
(g) Export performance requirements
There arenoexport performance requirements inBelarus.
(h) Import dutydrawback schemes
Belarus operates animport dutydrawback scheme sothatgoods imported forprocessing and
subsequent re-export arenotsubject toimport duties. When goods areimported under thisscheme
toenterintofreecirculation inBelarus, thecustoms authorities require adeposit (equal tothecustoms
dutythatwould normally beapplied) asaguarantee forobservance ofthechosen customs treatment.
Thedeposit isrefunded atthetimewhen theprocessed good isre-exported.
3. Internal policies affecting foreign trade ingoods
(a) Industrial andsubsidy policies
Industry inBelarus wasclosely integrated withtheother member republics oftheformer Soviet
Union. Hence enterprises arenowgoing through adifficult transition period duetothedisintegration
oftheformerSovietUnion,transitiontoamarketeconomyandsubsequentrestructuringoftheBelarusian
economy.
Industrial policy reform hasreceived amajor impetus fromtheprogramme ofeconomic reforms
agreed upon bytheBelarusian government andtheInternational Monetary Fund inlate1994. StateWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page19
orders toenterprises, which wereusedtoensure thefulfilment ofbilateral trade agreements withCIS
countries, havenowbeenreduced tolessthan6percentofindustrial output, andareexpected todecline
further.
Theroleofthegovernmentintheallocationofinvestmentfundsisalsobeingreduced.Preferential
credit from thegovernment budget willamount toapproximately 17percentofgross investment in
1995, andwillbeallotted toenterprises onacompetitive basismainly fortheconversion frommilitary
tocivilian production. Theremaining investment inindustry willbefinanced from extra-budgetary
fundsmaintainedbybranchministriesorindustryassociations.Thesefundsarefinancedbycontributions
fromenterprises amounting to1percentofprofits and15percentofdepreciation. Investment projects
areselected atthebranch levelonthebasis ofproposals andbusiness plans submitted byenterprises.
Similarly, credits fromforeign governments thatareguaranteed bytheBelarusian government arenow
allocated toenterprises byaspecial interministerial commission onthebasis ofproject proposals or
business plans.
Thefinancial responsibility ofenterprises willbefurther strengthened through theimplementation
oftheLawonBankruptcy andoftheLawonCounteracting Monopolism andEncouraging Competition.
Amajortaskinthemediumtolongtermremainsthegenuineprivatizationofindustrialenterprises.
Ofthetotalof1610enterprises with1453000 employees, 187enterprises with223000 employees were
privatized from1991through 1994, including allenterprises belonging tothelightandwood processing
industries. Afurther 249enterprises with375000 employees willbeprivatized in1995.
Thefirststage ofprivatization involves achange intheform ofownership intojointstock
companies. Inasecond stage, shares maybeacquired byprivate investors through auctions or
competitive tendering onthebasis ofbusiness plans. TheState maintains ashare of25percentonly
inthose large enterprises thatoccupy adominant position ontheBelarusian market. Foreigners may
participate inprivatization inaccordance withtheLawonForeign Investment of14November 1991
asamended on16June1993.
(b) Technical regulations andstandards
Imports aresubject tothesame industrial standards andcertification requirements asdomestic
products.
Until itsindependence Belarus usedthestandards oftheformer Soviet Union (GOST). GOST
standards havesince become theCISinter-State standards. Work onnational legislation inthisarea
startedin1992whentheCommitteeonStandardization,MetrologyandCertification(BELSTANDARD)
wasformed. Belarus hassince joined theInternational Organization forStandardization (ISO) andthe
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which havehelped Belarus tocomplete andharmonize
itslegislation withinternational standards.
TheNational System ofCertification (BelST) wasestablished in1992. Certification isrequired
forallgoods, works andservices which aresubject tosafety requirements toprotect human lifeor
health, property, ortheenvironment. Thisruleisintended toprotect theBelarusian population against
low-qualityandhazardousgoods(ResolutionNo.635oftheCabinetofMinistersof22September1993).
Inordertoremovetechnicalbarriersinforeigntrade,theBelarusianrulesandproceduresforcertification
havebeendrawn uptoconform tointernational norms suchasEuropean Standards EN45000 and
EN29000, ISO9000, andISOandECO directives.
Furthermore, Belarus isamember oftheInternational System ofCertification ofElectronic
Goods andispreparing tojointheInternational System ofCertification ofElectrical Equipment inWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page20
order toachieve compliance withIECstandards. Belarus hasalsojoined thesystem ofhomologation
ofroadtransport facilities (Geneva Agreement onAdoption ofUniform Conditions ofOfficial Approval
andonMutual Recognition oftheOfficial Approval ofItems ofEquipment andParts ofMechanical
Transport Facilities, 20March 1958).
Therearemorethan40accreditedorgansoncertificationofproductsandmorethan180accredited
testcentresinBelarus.Belarushassignedagreementsonmutualrecognitionoftestresultsandcertificates
withallCIScountries, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia.
Belarus intends toparticipate asanobserver intheEuropean Organization onTests and
Certification.
(c)Sanitary andphytosanitary measures
Goods which arepotentially hazardous tohuman, animal, orplanthealth mustmeetBelarusian
sanitary, veterinary, andphytosanitary standards. National legislation includes theLawon"Protection
ofHealth" of18June1993, theLawon"Veterinary Activity" of2December 1994, andtheLawon
"Protection ofPlants". Thenational legislation isbased onthenorms andstandards oftheWTO
Agreement ontheApplication ofSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures, theCodex Alimentarius, and
theInternational Convention onQuarantine andProtection ofPlants. TheBelarusian Centre of
Standardization andMeasurement, theState Inspection onPlant Quarantine, theState Veterinary
Inspection, andtheState Sanitary andEpidemiology Committee areresponsible forsanitary and
phytosanitary control onimported goods.
Sanitary andphytosanitary requirements apply indiscriminately todomestic andforeign goods.
Theappropriate hygiene, veterinary, orphytosanitary certificates mustaccompany potentially hazardous
goods during theirproduction, storage, transportation, anduse.Certificates forimported products must
beobtained before importation. Inaddition, imports ofallkinds ofwastes, second-hand products or
products whose validity hasexpired, require prior authorization bytheMinistry ofEcology.
Certificates maybeissued either ifasimilar certificate hasalready beenobtained inaproduct 's
country oforigin, oraftersubmission oftheresults ofananalysis carried outinBelarus. Certificates
arerequired forallplants andplantproducts, aswellasallanimals andanimal products imported into
Belarus. Goods requiring ahygiene certificate further include foodstuffs, foodadditives andpreserving
agents; materials incontact withfoodstuff; children 'sgoods; materials usedinwater supply systems;
chemicals applied tothehuman skin, cosmetic andperfume items; petrochemicals forindustrial and
household use;chemical products fortheagricultural sector, including fertilizer; polymeric andsynthetic
materials, fibres andthreads; synthetic materials andtextile items usedtomake footwear; machines
andother technological equipment forindustrial andnon-industrial use.
(d) Trade-related investment measures
There arenotrade-related investment measures.
(e) State-trading practices
Alleconomic operators, bothnatural andlegalpersons irrespective offorms ofproperty, have
therighttocarry outforeign trade activities. Theexisting Stateenterprises donothaveanyexclusive
rights orspecial privileges intheirpurchases andsales, including imports andexports. They actpurely
onthebasisofcommercial consideration inanon-discriminatory manner consistent withArticle XXII
ofGATT 1994.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page21
Statemonopolies existonlyfortheexport ofpotassium fertilizer, beer, spirits, tobacco products
andjewellery originating inBelarus, aswellasweapons. Therighttoexport isheldbytheproducers
ofthese goods. There arenoState monopolies onimports intoBelarus.
(f) Freezones
There arenofreezones inBelarus.
(g) Freeeconomic zones
There areproposals forseveral freeeconomic zones inBelarus. Therelevant legislation isunder
consideration bytheSupreme Council.
(h) Trade-related environmental policies
There arenoenvironmental policies affecting foreign trade.
(i) Mixing regulations
There arenomixing regulations.
(j) Government-mandated counter-trade andbarter
There isnogovernment-mandated counter-trade orbarter.
(k) Trade agreements leading tocountry-specific quotas allocation
Fortheyear1995, Belarus hasconcluded bilateral trade agreements withUkraine, Moldova,
andUzbekistan thatprovide fordeliveries ofspecified quantities ofalimited number ofproducts. These
agreements donotoblige individual enterprises toenterintoanycontract. TheBelarusian government
isphasing outsuchagreements.
(l) Government procurement practices
Government procurement wastraditionally intheform ofState orders placed directly with
individual enterprises. Thissystem isbeing replaced bycompetitive tendering procedures through the
Law on"Procurement ofGoods forGovernment Needs" adopted bytheSupreme Council on
24November 1993.
(m) Regulations oftrade intransit
Belarus permits thetax-free transit ofallgoods inaccordance withArticle VofGATT 1994,
except forthose goods whose importation isprohibited orrestricted as,forexample, industrial waste
andnuclear materials. Transit ofgoods iscarried outunder thesurveillance ofcustoms agents.
Individuals andlegalentities notdomiciled inthecountry aresubject toatransit feelevied upon the
entry ofmotor vehicles intoBelarus. Vehicles transporting humanitarian aidareexempted.
4. Policies affecting foreign trade inagricultural products
(a) Imports
Agricultural imports aretreated likeimports ofanyother products. There arenorestrictions
except import tariffs asdescribed inSection IV.1.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page22
(b) Exports
There areexport tariffs onasmall number ofproducts asdescribed inSection IV.2. Similarly,
therearenosubsidies foragricultural exports except forthereduction intheprofit taxonprofits from
exports infreely convertible currency (cf.Section IV.2).
(c) Export prohibitions andrestrictions
There arenoexport prohibitions orrestrictions onagricultural products.
(d) Export credits
There arenoexport credits, export credit guarantees orinsurance programmes.
(e) Internal policies
Themainobjectives oftheagricultural policy oftheBelarusian government aretoensure astable
foodsupply tothelocalpopulation atinternationally competitive prices, andtoexploit fullytheexport
potential oftheagricultural sector. Themajor elements ofthispolicy areenterprise andownership
reform. In1992, 24percentofarable landwasworked byState enterprises, producing 20percent
oftotalagricultural output. Collective farms accounted for59.7percentofthelandand45percent
ofoutput. Theremaining output (mostly fruits, vegetables, andeggs) came fromsmall private plots.
Private farms were practically non-existent.
Legislation passed bytheBelarusian Parliament from 1991 through 1993, including thelaws
"OnPrivatization ofState Property intheRepublic ofBelarus" of19November 1993 and"Onthe
Right ofLand Ownership" of16June1993, created thelegal framework bothfortheprivatization
ofState andcollective farms, andfortheformation ofnewprivate farms. Asaresult, thenumber
ofprivate farms roseto3000bytheendof1994 andisexpected togrow further.
Duetothelarge sizeofmany existing agricultural enterprises andtheabsence ofatradition
offamily farming inBelarus, theprivatization oftheagricultural sector frequently leadstotheformation
oflarge commercial orcooperative farms, rather thanthesplitting-up ofexisting enterprises. Bythe
beginning of1995, about 25percentofStatefarms hadbeentransformed intocooperative farms, while
62cooperative farms hadbeenconverted intoothercommercial structures, suchascollective agricultural
enterprises, joint-stock companies, andassociations. Ofatotalof2830 State agricultural enterprises
(including notonlyfarms butalsoagricultural services) withanemployment of938000, 59enterprises
withatotalof15000 employees were privatized from 1991 through 1994. In1995, itisplanned to
privatize afurther 762enterprises withatotalemployment of250000.
State ownership ofagricultural enterprises willultimately bemaintained onlyinexperimental
farms,pedigree-stock-breedingfarms,selectionandhybridcentres,sample-testingstations,andscientific
andresearch institutes (Decree oftheSupreme Council "OntheRight ofLand Ownership" dated 16
June1993). Thisisintended toprevent theformation ofprivate monopolies overcritical inputs.
Enterprise reform inagriculture iscomplemented bytheprivatization ofthefoodindustry, as
wellasofwholesale andretail trade. Together withaliberal import regime foragricultural products,
these measures willhelptoincrease thedegree ofcompetition inthemarkets foragricultural products
andinputs.
Theprogramme ofeconomic reform inagriculture implemented since late1994hasledtohuge
cutsinsubsidies toenterprises andconsumers. Consumer prices foragricultural products havebeenWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page23
unregulatedsince7December1994.Directsupportpaymentstothemostneedyhouseholdshavereplaced
theformer pricesubsidies. Atthesame time, anextra-budgetary support fundforagriculture hasbeen
established tocover themosturgent financial needs oftheagricultural sector, financed bya1percent
surcharge ontheturnover ofallnon-agricultural enterprises andorganizations irrespective oftheir
formofproperty. TheGovernment fearsthatwithout suchextrasupport largepartsoftheagricultural
sector might cease tofunction, which would havecatastrophic implications forthesupply offoodto
thepopulation.
Other support measures foragriculture include preferential credits fromtheGovernment budget
toindividual private farms forinitial investment, suchasconstruction ofroads, electricity andwater
supply,landimprovement,purchaseofequipmentandmeansoftransport,andconstructionofproduction
facilities. In1994, theinterest rateonsuchcredits was52percentp.a.versus 280percentp.a.for
other agricultural enterprises. Besides, private farms enjoy profit taxholidays forthefirstthreeyears
oftheiroperations.
5. Policies affecting foreign trade inother sectors
(a) Textiles regime
TherearenorestrictionsontextileimportsexceptforimporttariffsasdescribedinSectionIV.1.b.
Certain textile exports totheEuropean Union aresubject toexport quotas fixed under theAgreement
onTrade inTextiles between Belarus andtheEuropean Union. Quotas areallocated toindividual
enterprises through anindustry association bytheMinistry ofForeign Economic Relations ona
first-come, first-served basis.
(b) Other sectors
There arenospecial policies affecting foreign trade inother sectors.
V. TRADE-RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REGIME
1. General
(a) Intellectual property policy
Untilindependence, theintellectual property system inBelarus wasthesystem usedintheformer
Soviet Union, andwasbased onSoviet political andsocio-economic principles. Thesystem didnot
recognize theintellectual property rights ofindividuals andheldthattheresults ofintellectual activity
belonged tothewhole ofsociety.
Thereform ofsocial andeconomic institutions andthetransition toamarket economy have
required thecreation ofanewlegislative framework fortheprotection ofintellectual property rights.
Amendments totheCivil Code ofBelarus adopted in1994, interalia,define theintellectual property
rights thatmaybeprotected. These include patents forinventions andutility models, trademarks, service
marks, aswellascopyright forpreviously uncovered matters such ascomputer programs. The
government 'spolicy inthisareanowinvolves:
- theenactment ofspecial national legislation onindividual intellectual property rights;
- theestablishment ofgovernment agencies responsible forintellectual property rights;
- membership ininternational conventions andtreaties ontrade-related intellectual property
rights, andtheadoption ofbilateral agreements oncooperation andtheexchange of
legislative documentation.
(b) Responsible agencies forpolicy formulation andimplementationWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page24
Theinstitutional framework forpolicy formulation hasbeendescribed inSection IIIabove. The
Committee onCopyright andNeighbouring Rights andtheState Patent Office havebeenestablished
toimplement intellectual property policy. TheStatePatent Office began issuing patents inApril 1994.
(c) Membership ofinternational intellectual property conventions
Belarus asamember oftheUnited Nations hasbeenamember oftheWorld Intellectual Property
Organization since 1970. On14April 1993 Belarus became asignatory totheParis Convention for
theProtection ofIndustrial Property (1883); the"PCT" Patent Cooperation Treaty (1970); andthe
Madrid Agreement Concerning theInternational Registration ofMarks (1891). Belarus hasalsobeen
aparty totheUniversal Copyright Convention of1951 since 27May 1973. Under thePartnership
andCooperation Agreement with theEuropean Union of6March 1995, Belarus hasundertaken to
jointhefollowing agreements within thenextfiveyears:
- theBerne Convention fortheProtection ofLiterary andArtistic Works (inreduction of
Paris Actof1971);
- Convention onprotection ofrights ofperformers, producers ofphonograms and
broadcasting organizations (Rome, 1961);
- theInternational Convention fortheProtection ofNewVarieties ofPlants of1961;
- theMadrid Agreement Concerning theSuppression ofFalse orMisleading Indications
ofOrigin of1891.
TheEurasian Patent Convention oncooperation onintellectual property rights among theCIS
member countries hasbeenratified bytheSupreme Council on26April 1995. According tothis
agreement, patents registered inonecountry arevalid alsointheremaining CISmember countries.
Inaddition, anintergovernmental agreement between Russia andBelarus wassigned in1994tofacilitate
thesubmission andexamination ofapplications forprotection ineachcountry bynationals oftheother
country. Itallows natural andlegalpersons fromonecountry tousepatent collections, libraries, and
databases onindustrial property intheother country onthesame conditions asnationals oftheother
country. Asimilar agreement isbeing prepared between Belarus andUkraine.
Alsoanagreement oncooperation inthefieldofprotection ofcopyright andneighbouring rights
among CISmember countries wassigned in24October 1993.
Bilateral agreements oncooperation andexchange oflegislative actsandpatent documentation
existbetween theState Patent Office ofBelarus andthepatent offices ofCroatia, Yugoslavia, New
Zealand, Greece, Canada, Japan, Holland, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, andwiththeEuropean Patent Office.
Similar agreements areready forsignature withAustria, Bulgaria, andArmenia, andareunder
negotiation withtheUnited States, Japan, andGermany. Proposals forcooperation havebeenaddressed
tomore than70foreign countries.
(d) Application ofnational andm.f.n. treatment toforeign nationals
Inaccordance withtheParisConvention fortheProtection ofIndustrial Property, Belarus grants
national treatment intheprotection ofindustrial property tonationals ofsignatory States ofthe
Convention (Law onPatents onIndustrial Designs; LawonPatents onInventions; LawonTrademarks
andServicemarks). National treatment willalsobeprovided forbytheLawonCopyright andRelated
Rights which isnowunder consideration bytheSupreme Council.
(e) Feesandtaxes
Afeeispayable forpatents forinventions orindustrial designs, andfortheregistration oftrade
marks orservice marks. Detailed information iscontained inTable 9WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page25
2. Substantive standards ofprotection
(a) Copyright andrelated rights
TheCivilCode asamended in1994protects theinterests ofauthors bystipulating thatnormally
onlyanatural person canberecognized asauthor. However, alegal person canobtain acopyright
(i)asapublisher ofaperiodical, or(ii)asatelevision orradio programme maker. Aspecial draft
lawoncopyright andrelated rights hasbeensubmitted totheSupreme Council inMarch 1994 for
consideration. Itcovers thewhole range ofcopyright andrelated rights, including theprotection of
computer programmes andcompilation ofdata,protection ofperformers, producers ofphonograms,
andbroadcasting organizations. Theproposed lawhasbeendrafted soastooffer thestandards of
protection laiddown intheAgreement onTrade-Related Intellectual Property Rights; italsostates
thatwhere Belarus isamember ofaninternational convention, therulesofthatconvention shallprevail.
(b) Trademarks, including service marks
TheLaw onTrademarks andService Marks wasadopted bytheSupreme Council on
5February 1993 andconforms toArticle 16oftheTRIPS Agreement. Thelawdefines rights and
obligations fortheuseoftrademarks orservice marks, theirterms ofprotection, andthelicensing
procedure. Initial registration, andeachrenewal ofregistration, ofatrademark isfor10years.
(c) Geographical indications, including appellations oforigin
Work onlegislation ongeographical indications, including appellations oforigin, isbeing carried
out.
(d) Patents forindustrial designs
TheLawon"Patents forIndustrial Design" conforms toSection 4oftheTRIPS Agreement
andwasadopted bytheSupreme Council on5February 1993. Industrial designs maybeprotected
iftheymeettheconditions ofnovelty, originality, andindustrial applicability. Protection isfor10years
from thedateoffiling.
Patent applications onindustrial designs aretobesubmitted totheBelarusian StatePatent Office.
Priority canbeestablished pursuant tothedateof:
- receipt ofanapplication withallnecessary documents bytheBelarusian StatePatent Office;
- filing thefirstapplication foranindustrial design inanother signatory country oftheParis
Convention, iftheapplication forthisindustrial design isreceived bytheBelarusian State
Patent Office within sixmonths from thatdate.
Appeals against anydecision bytheStatePatent Office maybelaunched, inthefirstinstance,
before thePatent Office Appeals Council which isstaffed byemployees ofthePatent Office andchaired
bythedeputy headofthePatent Office. Decisions oftheappeals council maybeappealed inthe
economic courts.
(e) Patents forinventions
Pursuant totheLaw onPatents forInventions adopted bytheSupreme Council on
5February 1993, aninvention maybeprotected ifithasnovelty, inventive quality, andindustrial
applicability. Thisapplies toallinventions, whether ofproducts orprocesses, inalmost allfields of
technology,andincludesdevices,techniques,substances,micro-organisms,culturesofplantsandanimal
cells, andnewapplications. Therighttoaninvention isconfirmed byapatent which certifies theWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page26
authorship, priority andexclusive rightofthepatent holder tousetheinvention. Patents forinventions
arevalidfortwenty years fromthedatewhen theapplication wasreceived bytheStatePatent Office.
Apatent application foraninvention should besubmitted totheStatePatent Office bytheauthor
oftheinvention, bytheemployer under anagreement withtheemployee (author) orbyother persons
towhom theauthor oremployer delegates theright. Theruleforestablishing priority isthesame as
forindustrial designs (seeitem(f)above), except thatthere isatermoftwelve months instead ofsix
months ifthefirstapplication isfiledinanother signatory country oftheParis Convention.
(f) Plant variety protection
ThedraftLawontheProtection ofVarieties ofPlants wasapproved bytheSupreme Council
in13April 1995.
(g) Layout designs ofintegrated circuits
Theprotection oflayout designs ofintegrated circuits ispresently covered bytheprovisions
oftheCivil Code oncopyright. Aspecial draftlawisbeing prepared inaccordance withtherelevant
international agreements.
(h) Requirements onundisclosed information
Undisclosed information isprotected bythegeneral norms ofcivilandcriminal law.
(i) Other categories ofintellectual property
Adraftlawontheprotection ofutility models hasbeensubmitted totheSupreme Council. A
utility model isdefined asatechnical innovation thathasthegeneral features ofapatentable invention
butrepresents alower leveloftechnological advance.
3. Measures tocontrol abuse ofintellectual property rights
There arenospecific provisions tocontrol theabuse ofintellectual property rights, forexample
through particular forms oflicensing agreements. However, suchpractices mayviolate thegeneral
norms oftheAnti-monopoly Law, theCivil Code, ortheCriminal Code.
4. Enforcement
(a) Civil judicial procedures andremedies
Theindividual lawsonintellectual property rights include provisions relating toenforcement,
which refertotheprocedures andmeasures provided forbycivilorcriminal law.However, theproblem
ofproviding forlegalprotection ofintellectual property israther newforBelarus, andlegislation in
thisareaneeds tobedeveloped further. Although adraftlawisunder preparation tosetupaPatent
Court,disputesrelatedtoinfringementofintellectualpropertyrightsareatpresentstillheardbycommon
andeconomic courts. Civil responsibility involves boththeprohibition ofanyfurther illegal useof
anintellectual property right, andcompensation forthedamage caused totheowner (including lost
profit). During 1994several casesinvolving theuseofnon-owned trademarks andimproper appellations
oforigin were settled. These were qualified asunlawful competition andviolation oftheexclusive
rights oftheowners.
(b) Provisional measures; administrative procedures andremedies; special border measuresWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page27
Belarusian legislation doesnotprovide forsuchmeasures.
(c) Criminal procedures
TheCriminalCodeofBelarusprovidesforcriminalresponsibilityfortheillegaluseoftrademarks,
aswellasforprotection against theinfringement ofintellectual property rights. Violations maylead
tofinesorprison sentences ofuptotwoyears.
5. Laws, decrees, regulations andother legal actsrelating totheabove
Alistofthemainlegalactsaffecting theprotection oftrade-related intellectual property rights
iscontained inAnnex 2.
6. Statistical data
Table 10contains information onapplications received andregistration ofindustrial property
rights.
VI. TRADE-RELATED SERVICES REGIME
1. General
InBelarus likeinmany other economies intransition, information ontheservice economy and
ontrade inservices isscarce. Infact,theregulatory system forthese activities hasnotyetbeenfully
developed andputintoplace. Asaconsequence, many matters covered inthischapter arebased on
legal andregulatory textsofageneral character andonwhatever statistical dataandestimates are
available.
Atpresent, there isdetailed legislation mainly withrespect tofinancial services. Inmostother
subsectors Belarusian legislation oneconomic activities ingeneral isapplied (forexample, onthe
formation ofenterprises orbankruptcy), andsupplemented bydecrees oftheresponsible ministries
where necessary (cf.Section VI.2.(a) below). TheMinistry ofJustice controls thecompliance ofsuch
decrees withthegeneral legislation inforce.
2. Policies affecting trade inservices
(a) Government departments, agencies, professional associations
Theinstitutional framework fortheformulation ofeconomic policies inBelarus isdescribed
inSectionIIIabove.Responsibilityforpolicyimplementationintheservicesector,includingthelicensing
ofsuppliers, standardization, andprivatization, liesmainly withindividual ministries. Financial services
areregulated bythelawson"Banks andBanking intheRepublic ofBelarus" adopted in1990(amended
in1990, 1993, 1994) andon"Insurance" ofDecember 1993. Commercial banks aresupervised by
theNationalBank,andinsurancecompaniesbytheStateSurveillanceOfficeonInsurance.Responsibility
fortheregulation ofotherservice sectors isdelegated mainly toindividual ministries byDecree No.456
of21August 1995 oftheCouncil ofMinisters, asamended. These include, interalia:
- National Bank: production oftreasury notes, banknotes, coins, andissuance ofsecurities
guaranteed bygovernment;
- Ministry ofEnergy: production ofelectricity forthenational network;
- Ministry ofAgriculture: cultivation ofplants containing narcotic orpoisonous substances;
production andsaleofmedicines forveterinary purposes; veterinary practice; production
andsaleofalcoholic beverages; soilimprovement;
- Ministry ofArchitecture andConstruction: roadconstruction andmaintenance;WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page28
- Ministry ofTransport andCommunications: transportation ofgoods andpassengers;
- Ministry ofFinance: production ofsecurities andcertain documents (e.g.lottery tickets,
State dutystamps);
- Ministry ofDefence: production, repair andsaleofarms andweapon;
- Ministry ofInterior: repair andsaleofsporting andhunting guns; production oforders
andmedals, seals; detective activities;
- Ministry ofPosts, Telecommunications andInformatics: construction andoperation of
telecommunications networks;
- Ministry ofHealth: production, sale,andmaintenance ofmedical equipment; production
ofmedicines, andofbacteriological, narcotic andpoisonous substances; medical services;
- Ministry ofNatural Resources andEnvironmental Protection: reprocessing oftoxicwaste;
commercial useofwildanimals andplants;
- Ministry forForeign Economic Relations: travel agencies;
- BelarusianStateConcernforOilandPetroleumProducts:salesofoilandrefineryproducts;
- State Customs Committee: activities ofcustoms agents;
- Ministry ofJustice: private notary services; legalservices;
- Ministry oflabour: movement ofnatural persons (workers).
Other non-governmental organisations suchasprofessional associations donotcontrol market
access intheservice sector.
(b) Judicial, arbitral andadministrative tribunals andprocedures
Such procedures arethesame asfortrade ingoods, andaredescribed inSection III.6.
(c) Qualification requirements andprocedures, licensing andregistration requirements
Qualification requirements forthestaffofcommercial banks andinsurance companies arelaid
down inthelawson"Banks andBanking intheRepublic ofBelarus" adopted inDecember 1990and
on"Insurance" ofJune1993. Forother service activities subject toalicence (cf.Section VI.2.a above),
theministries responsible according toResolution No.386of16October 1991 oftheCouncil of
Ministers, asamended, maydetermine qualification requirements, licensing andregistration procedures
through ministerial orders andinstructions. Such orders andinstructions havetoberegistered with
theMinistry ofJustice.
Fortheregistration ofholding companies awritten permit oftheAnti-Monopoly Ministry is
required.
(d) Monopolies andexclusive service suppliers
Adefactogovernment monopoly exists inthetelephone cablenetwork (butnotcellular telephone
services), citytransport, railways, gas,water andheatsupply, which arenotscheduled forprivatization.
(e) Safeguard measures
There arenosafeguard measures thatapply totrade inservices.
(f) International transfers andpayments forcurrent transactions ofservices
There arenorestrictions oninternational transfers andpayments foranycurrent transactions,
including profit repatriation byforeign investors. Belarusian residents travelling abroad mustproduceWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page29
abank certificate, oracustoms declaration proving theprevious importation offreely convertible
currency, iftheywishtotakemore than500US-$ outofthecountry.
(g) Capital transactions affecting thesupply ofservices
There arenorestrictions oncapital imports intoBelarus byforeign investors. Capital exports
bylegal (butnotbynatural) persons require aspecial permission bytheNational Bank which will
normally begranted ifthecapital export isdeemed tobeinthenational interest ofBelarus.
(h) Government procurement ofservices
Therules forgovernment procurement ofservices arethesame asforprocurement ofgoods
(cf.Section IV.3.(l)).
(i) Consumer subsidies foressential services
There areconsumer subsidies forcertain essential services suchaslocalpassenger transport,
somemunicipal services, housing provision, andlocaltelephone calls. Inaccordance withtheagreement
between theBelarusian government andtheInternational Monetary Fund ofDecember 1994 such
subsidies arebeing phased out,andarereplaced bydirect support payments forthemost needy
households.
3. Market access andnational treatment
(a) Limitations onthenumber ofservice suppliers; onthetotalnumber ofservice transactions
orassets; onthetotalnumber ofservice operations oronthetotalquantity ofservice output;
andonthetotalnumber ofnatural persons employed inaparticular service sector
There arenosuchlimitations.
(b) Restrictions ontypeoflegal entity ofservice provider
There arenosuchrestrictions.
(c) Limitations onparticipation offoreign capital
Thelegislation provides fortwotypes ofenterprises withforeign investment: jointventures and
wholly foreign-owned enterprises. Bothtypes areregistered aslegalpersons bytheMinistry ofForeign
Economic Relations. Theminimum investment isUS-$ 20000 bytheforeigner.
TheLawon“Foreign Investment ontheTerritory oftheRepublic ofBelarus ”andtheLawon
“Insurance ”limitforeign participation ininsurance companies to49percent.According totheCustoms
Code, enterprises withforeign investment maybeexcluded from operating intheareaofcustoms
services.
Representative offices offoreign firms andorganisations canbeestablished withanauthorization
oftheMinistry ofForeign Economic Relations which isinitially granted forthree years, butmaybe
prolonged. Theregistration feeisUS-$ 2000 forestablishment, andUS-$ 1000 forprolongation.
(d) Measures providing forlessthannational treatment
Attorney andnotary services arereserved forBelarusian nationals.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page30
Foreign participation inbanks mustbeeither intheform ofawholly foreign-owned bank, or
ofajointventure. Minimum equity requirements differ between national banks. andbanks withforeign
participation. Minimum equity forabank withforeign capital isEcu5,000,000, where itisEcu
2,000,000 forawholly nationally owned bank.
Foreign natural persons enjoy therightoffreeaccess totheservices market andmayengage
inthesupply ofservices either individually orasemployees ofBelarusian orforeign enterprises or
jointventures.
Visas areissued bytheconsular departments ofBelarusian embassies, oratthefrontier control
points, onthebasisofofficial invitations issued byBelarusian legalpersons. More liberal regulations
areapplied tonationals ofthose countries withwhich Belarus hasanagreement onvisa-free travel.
Belarusian labour regulations alsoapply toforeign natural persons. After-tax income mayfreely be
transferred abroad. Contributions topension funds foremployees byenterprises withforeign investment
maysimilarly betransferred freely totheemployees 'countries ofpermanent residence.
4. Most-favoured-nation treatment
There arenomeasures inconsistent withmost-favoured-nation treatment.
VII. INSTITUTIONAL BASE FOR TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH THIRD
COUNTRIES
1. Bilateral orplurilateral agreements relating toforeign trade ingoods andtrade inservices
Belarus hassigned anAgreement onPartnership andCooperation withtheEuropean Union which
provides, inter alia,formost-favoured-nation treatment onamutual basis. Belarus considers this
agreement tobeastarting point forthecountry ’sgradual integration intotheframework ofEuropean
economic cooperation.
Furthermore, Belarus hasconcluded more then30bilateral agreements ontrade andeconomic
cooperation, involving most-favoured nation treatment oftrade ingoods onamutual basis, interalia
withtheBulgaria, Poland, Vietnam, Romania, Finland, Kuwait, Austria, USA, India, Switzerland,
Turkey, theCzech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Sweden, andIran(cf.Annex 6).More agreements on
trade andeconomic cooperation aswellasontheavoidance ofdouble taxation andontheprotection
offoreign investment arebeing negotiated.
Allthese agreements aredrawn uptobeinconformity withWTO principles.
2. Economic integration, customs union andfree-trade areaagreements
AnAgreement onaCustoms Union between Belarus andtheRussian Federation wassigned
on6January 1995. TheAgreement provides fortheharmonization, interalia,oflegislation affecting
foreign trade. TheBelarusian Government isdetermined toimplement theAgreement onaCustoms
Union insuchawayastoensure itscompatibility withtheobligations ofBelarus asaprospective future
member oftheWTO.
Belarus hassigned several agreements within theframework oftheCISthatcanberegarded
aseconomic integration agreements. Inpractice, however, cooperation among CISmember countries
occurs mainly through bilateral agreements. Belarus hasconcluded freetradeagreements withRussia,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page31
Afulllistoftheeconomic cooperation andfreetrade agreements inforce isfound inAnnex 6.
3. Labour markets integration agreements
Belarus hasconcluded labour market integration agreements withMoldova, Poland, Russia and
Ukraine. Similar agreements withLithuania, Armenia andKazakhstan areunder consideration.
4. Multilateral economic cooperation
Belarus hasenjoyed observer status intheGATT since December 1992, andintheWTO since
January 1995. Belarus strives tobecome afullWTO member assoonaspossible.
Since 1992 Belarus hasbeenamember oftheInternational Monetary Fund, theWorld Bank,
theInternationalFinanceCorporation,theInternationalDevelopmentAgency,theMultilateralInvestment
Guarantee Agency, andtheEuropean BankforReconstruction andDevelopment. Belarus places special
emphasis oncontinuing cooperation withtheinternational finance organizations.
Belarus isamember oftheUnited Nations andseveral ofitsaffiliated organizations (WHO,
UNIDO, UNESCO). Itisasignatory tointernational conventions suchastheInternational Pacton
Economic, Social andCultural Rights, theUNConvention onOpen Sea,andtheUNConvention on
ContractsfortheInternationalSalesofGoods.Belarusalsoparticipatesinothermultilateralorganisations
suchastheWorld Meteorological Organization, theInternational Labour Organisation, theInternational
Atomic Energy Agency, Union Postale Universelle, World Intellectual Property Organization,
INMARSAT andINTELSAT.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page32
ANNEX 1
TABLE 1-Macroeconomic Indicators, 1992 -1995
1992 1993 1994 1995
(January toAugust;
percentage change
from same period of
1994)
GDP (inconstant prices, 1991 =100) 90 81 64 -12%
Industrial output (inconstant prices,
1991 =100)90,6 81,5 65,8 -11,8 %
Agricultural output (inconstant
prices, 1991 =100)91,5 94,9 81,6 -5,6%
Consumer prices
average price levelofcurrent yearover
average price levelofprevious year1070,8 1290,2 2321,0 1540
December 94to
August 1995
Change from December ofprevious year
toDecember ofcurrent year(percent
change ofcurrent leveloverlevelyear
ago)1659,1 2096,5 2059,9 293,4
Exports (mln. USD)
CIScountries2498 2109 2085 972*
Other countries 1082 832 1053 643*
Imports (mln. USD)
CIScountries2462 2305 2990 1464*
Other countries 741 912 690 306*
*—DataforJanuary -June1995
Components ofGDP (percentoftotalGDP, incurrent prices)
100 100 100 100
forthefirst
quarter 1995
Private consumption 58,8 69,5 77,8 76,5
Government consumption 7,4 7,1 7,6 8,9
Gross accumulation 32,3 38,4 29,5 24,7
Balance oftrade ingoods andservices 1,5 -17 -14,9 -10,1WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page33
TABLE 2-Commodity Composition ofTrade withRussia, CISandThird Countries
(1994, percentoftrade witheachcountry group)
Chapters ofHS Exports to Imports from
non-
CIS
count
riesRus
siaother
CIS
countri
esAll
cou
ntrie
snon-CI
S
countri
esRuss
iaother
CIS
countri
esAll
coun
tries
I LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL
PRODUCTS1.5 3.9 0.5 2.7 0.4 0.1 0.0 0.1
II VEGETABLE PRODUCTS 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 12.3 1.4 18.3 5.1
III ANIMAL ORVEGETABLE
FATS AND OILS0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 3.9 0.5
IV PREPARED FOODSTUFFS 0.8 2.7 1.2 1.9 3.8 0.6 11.2 2.3
V MINERAL PRODUCTS 5.1 4.5 13.6 5.8 2.774.9 7.7 54.6
VI CHEMICAL PRODUCTS 34.5 3.9 3.414.1 25.8 2.4 1.9 6.7
VII PLASTICS, RUBBER AND
ARTICLES THEREOF3.6 4.6 7.4 4.6 6.2 3.5 3.1 4.0
VIII LEATHER AND ARTICLES
THEREOF0.9 1.3 2.5 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.2
IX WOOD AND ARTICLES
OFWOOD1.9 0.4 3.8 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.1
X PULP, PAPER AND
PAPER PRODUCTS0.21.0 1.6 0.8 0.3 1.7 0.8 1.3
XI TEXTILES AND TEXTILE
ARTICLES18.9 14.
112.6 15.6 6.2 2.5 6.8 3.6
XII FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR
AND ACCESSORIES0.4 1.6 1.0 1.1 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.3
XIII STONE, CLAY AND
GLASS PRODUCTS1.0 1.4 2.4 1.4 0.6 0.2 4.4 0.7
XIV PEARLS, PRECIOUS
METALS AND STONES2.80.0 0.0 0.9 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1
XV BASE METALS AND
METAL PRODUCTS7.6 6.1 6.1 6.6 3.211.4 39.5 12.7
XVI MACHINERY AND
EQUIPMENT;
ELECTRICAL GOODS5.2 21.
317.0 15.4 30.9 0.9 1.7 6.6
XVII VEHICLES AND OTHER
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT11.5 28.
721.5 22.1 2.3 0.1 0.0 0.5
XVIII INSTRUMENTS AND
APPARATUS2.2 0.8 3.6 1.6 1.9 0.0 0.0 0.4
XIX ARMS AND
AMMUNITION0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
XX MISCELLANEOUS
MANUFACTURED
ARTICLES1.4 3.5 1.6 2.6 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.2
ALL PRODUCTS (percent
oftotaltrade withallthree
country groups)33.6 54.
312.1 100.
018.8 71.1 10.1 100.0WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page34
TABLE 3-Commodity Composition ofTrade withRussia, CISandThird Countries
(January -June 1995, percentoftrade witheachcountry group)
Chapters ofHS Exports to Imports from
non-
CIS
count
riesRus
siaother
CIS
countr
iesAll
count
riesnon-C
IS
count
riesRus
siaother
CIS
countri
esAll
count
ries
I LIVE ANIMALS;
ANIMAL PRODUCTS1.2 3.9 0.2 2.3 2.7 0.1 0.1 0.5
II VEGETABLE PRODUCTS 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.1 7.9 1.7 14.6 3.7
III ANIMAL OR
VEGETABLE FATS AND
OILS0.0 2.2 0.0 1.0 1.5 0.0 1.2 0.3
IV PREPARED
FOODSTUFFS0.5 4.5 0.8 2.3 3.6 0.2 5.5 1.2
V MINERAL PRODUCTS 4.8 7.2 46.9 12.3 4.267.1 5.1 51.8
VI CHEMICAL PRODUCTS 32.5 6.6 5.1 16.7 21.8 9.2 7.4 11.3
VII PLASTICS, RUBBER
AND ARTICLES
THEREOF6.2 2.6 4.7 4.4 6.9 3.0 3.3 3.7
VIII LEATHER AND
ARTICLES THEREOF1.1 1.0 1.2 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2
IX WOOD AND ARTICLES
OFWOOD2.9 0.5 2.8 1.8 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.2
X PULP, PAPER AND
PAPER PRODUCTS0.41.3 1.4 1.0 1.8 0.8 0.8 1.0
XI TEXTILES AND
TEXTILE ARTICLES21.8 11.3 5.0 14.5 0.0 1.2 9.2 1.5
XII FOOTWEAR,
HEADGEAR AND
ACCESSORIES0.2 1.9 0.5 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.2
XIII STONE, CLAY AND
GLASS PRODUCTS0.9 3.4 1.8 2.1 0.3 0.4 1.4 0.4
XIV PEARLS, PRECIOUS
METALS AND STONES1.8 0.2 0.0 0.8 3.3 0.1 0.1 0.7
XV BASE METALS AND
METAL PRODUCTS8.6 2.5 4.2 5.2 3.4 8.0 36.2 9.2
XVI MACHINERY AND
EQUIPMENT;
ELECTRICAL GOODS4.322.4 15.6 14.1 18.1 6.3 7.9 8.5
XVI
IVEHICLES AND OTHER
TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT9.922.5 8.8 15.4 18.3 1.0 6.1 4.3
XVI
IIINSTRUMENTS AND
APPARATUS1.6 1.0 0.3 1.1 4.0 0.4 0.6 1.0WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page35
Chapters ofHS Exports to Imports from
non-
CIS
count
riesRus
siaother
CIS
countr
iesAll
count
riesnon-C
IS
count
riesRus
siaother
CIS
countri
esAll
count
ries
XIX ARMS AND
AMMUNITION0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
XX MISCELLANEOUS
MANUFACTURED
ARTICLES1.1 4.9 0.6 2.7 1.1 0.0 0.1 0.2
ALL PRODUCTS (per
centoftotaltrade withall
three country groups)39.8 44.8 15.4 100.0 17.3 75.5 7.2100.0WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page36
TABLE 4-Regional composition offoreign trade
1993 -1995 (percent)
EXPORT IMPORT
1993 1994 Jan.-June
19951993 1994 Jan.-June
1995
CIScountries 68.8 66.4 60.2 70.1 81.2 82.7
Russia 49.6 53.8 44.8 55.1 70.3 75.5
Ukraine 11.3 9.2 12.3 8.5 7.6 4.9
Caucasian states andMoldova 2.9 1.2 1.5 0.9 0.8 0.3
Kazakhstan 3.2 1.4 1.0 4.4 1.7 1.2
Other Central Asian states 1.9 0.8 0.6 1.1 0.9 0.8
non-CIS countries 31.2 33.6 39.8 29.9 18.8 17.3
European Union 10.1 10.5 14.1 14.1 10.5 8.9
ofwhich Germany 3.9 5.3 6.9 6.8 5.8 4.7
Eastern &Southeast Europe 8.7 9.7 10.9 5.6 4.1 5.9
ofwhich Poland 3.4 3.6 4.2 2.2 1.4 2.0
Other Europe 1.9 2.0 1.3 3.3 0.8 0.6
Developing countries 8.4 9.1 11.4 3.3 1.1 1.0
Other countries 2.2 2.3 2.2 3.7 2.2 0.9
ofwhich USA 1.6 1.9 1.8 3.3 1.8 0.6WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page37
TABLE 5-IMPORT TARIFF RATES
AND
LISTS OFCOUNTRIES BENEFITING FROM
NATIONAL SYSTEM OFPREFERENCES
(according toResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters oftheRepublic ofBelarus No298of29April 1994
asamended byResolutions oftheCabinet ofMinisters oftheRepublic ofBelarus No.219and340
of19April 1995 and29June1995 respectively)
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
01
except:5%
010111000
010210000
010310000
010410100
010420100
010600990dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
02
except:15%
020610100
020621000dutyfree
2,8ECU per1kg.
020622100,
020629100,
020630100,
020641100,
020649100,
020680100,
020690100dutyfree
020731000 13,6ECU per1kg.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page38
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
020710110-
020710190,
020710900,
020721,
020723900,
020739110-
020739250,
020739550
(except duckmeat),
020739630,
020739650-
020739670
(except duckandgoose meat),
020739730
(except duckmeat),
020739770
(except duckmeat),
020739830
(except duckandgoose meat),
020741100-
020741710,
020743150
(except duckmeat),
020743250,
020743310-
020743410
(except duckandgoose meat),
020743530
(except duckmeat),
020743630
(except duckmeat),
020743810
(except duckandgoose)25%
03
except:10%
030510000
030541000
030549400
030549500dutyfree
16,1ECU per1kg.
20%
20%
04
except:15%
040210 10%
040221-
-04022910%
0403
040500
04081110%
20%
10%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page39
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
05
except:10%
051000000
051110000dutyfree
dutyfree
06
0601 except roots of1212
commodity item5%
0602
0603
0604dutyfree
25% butnotlessthan0.08
ECU per1unit
5%
07
except:15%
070110000
070190dutyfree
25%
08
except:10%
0801
0802
080300
0804
0805
080810
081400000dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
0,2ECU per1kg.
dutyfree
09
except:dutyfree
090121000,
09012200010%
090210000,
09023000010%butnotlessthan0,1
ECU per1kg.
10
except:1%
100110100
100190100
100190910
100300100
100400100
100510
100610100
100700100dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
11 10%
12
except:5%
120500100
120600dutyfree
10%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page40
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
except:
120600100 dutyfree
13
except:5%
1302 dutyfree
14
except:15%
140420000 dutyfree
15
except:15%
1505
1508
1509
1511
151311,
151319
151321,
151329
1515
1520dutyfree
dutyfree
10%
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
16
except:15%
160100
1602120%butnotlessthan0,4
ECU per1kg.
5%butnotlessthan0,4ECU
per1kg.
except:
from
160210000homogenized ready-to-eat
foodstuff made ofmeat, meat
sub-products orblood for
producing babyfoodin
packaging upto250gdutyfree
160411000
160419
160420100
160430
160510000
160520000
160530000
160540000
16059010,5ECU per1kg.
25%
25%
100ECU per1kg.
12,0ECU per1kg.
7,4ECU per1kg.
14,0ECU per1kg.
6,9ECU per1kg.
20%
17WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page41
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
1701
except:1%
170199100
1702
1703
170425%
5%
5%
20%
except:
170410
170490550
170490710
170490750
17049099025%butnotlessthan1,0
ECU per1kg.
10%
20%
20%
20%
18
except:dutyfree
180631000
180632
1806900,6ECU per1kg.
0,6ECU per1kg.
0,6ECU per1kg.
except:
180690900 10%
19
except:15%
190110000 dutyfree
20
except:20%
from
200510000homogenized vegetables for
producing ofbabyfoodin
packaging upto250gdutyfree
200570000 10%
from
200710homogenized ready-to-eat food
stuffforproducing ofbaby
foodinpackaging upto250gdutyfree
2009 10%
21
except:15%
210110110
210230000
210420000
210610%butnotlessthan0,5
ECU per1kg.
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
except:
210690100 15%
22 except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page42
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
2201
220210000
220290
220300
220410
220421
220429
220430
220510
220590
220600100
220600910
220600930
220600990
220710000
220720000
220820%
25%
20%
0,6ECU per1litre
1,32ECU per1litre
0,5ECU per1litre
0,12ECU per1litre
dutyfree
0,5ECU per1litre
0,12ECU per1litre
0,5ECU per1litre
1,32ECU per1litre
0,5ECU per1litre
0,5ECU per1litre
100% butnotlessthan2,0
ECU per1litre
100% butnotlessthan2,0
ECU per1litre
2,0ECU per1litre
except:
220890910,
2208909904,0ECU per1litre
220900 15%
23
except:dutyfree
230910 25%
24
2401
2402
24035%
30%butnotlessthan3ECU
per1000 units
30%
except:
240310000 20%
25 5%
26 5%
27 5%
28
except:5%
2815
282612000
28263000010%
15%
15%
29
except:5%
290539
290721000
290722dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfreeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page43
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
290941000diethyleneglycol,
digol (only chemical pure)dutyfree
290944000
291221000
291422000
291523000
291529000
291560900
291570dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
from
291639000ibuprofenum dutyfree
291712100
291719100
291736000dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
from
291739900acidum izoftalum dutyfree
291811000
291813000
291814000
291821000
292112000dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
from
292159000bromhexinum dutyfree
292211000
292242000
292910000
2933dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
except:
293361000 5%
from
293430900
293490400trifftazinum dutyfree
dutyfree
from
293500000diabetonum, glurenorm,
furosemidum dutyfree
2936
2937dutyfree
dutyfree
from
293810000
2939ruthenium dutyfree
dutyfree
from
294000900
2941venterum dutyfree
dutyfree
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page44
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
294110000 ampicillin tryhidras
oxacillin
6-APC
benzylpenicillinum
fenoxypen
ampicillinum-natrium10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
10%
from
294120900 streptomicinum 10%
from
294130000 oxytetracycline
hydrocloridum10%
10%
from
294140000 laevomycentinum 10%
from
294150000 eritromicinum 10%
from
294190000 kanamycinisulfas
lincomcin10%
10%
30
except:10%
300331000
300431dutyfree
dutyfree
31 10%
32 5%
33
3301
3302
330300
3304
3305
3306dutyfree
dutyfree
25%
20%
15%
dutyfree
except:
330610000
330710%
15%
34
except:15%
3403
3407000005%
dutyfree
35
except:5%
350400000
3507dutyfree
dutyfree
36 30%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page45
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
37
except:10%
370110
370210000
370232990;
370255000;
370256900
3706
38dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
30%
5%
except:
3808
3811
3812
3815dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
382200000 (except items indicated in3002
or3006)dutyfree
382360 (except items indicated in
290544)dutyfree
382390910 dutyfree
39
3901-3914
except:10%
from
390319000
390430000
390511000
390710000
390740000
390760000
391212000
391290100
3915
3916
3917polystirol dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
15%
15%
10%
391710
391732910
3918
3919
3920dutyfree
dutyfree
25%
5%
5%
except:
from
392010-
392020pellicle made ofpolyomfins in
combination withother
polymers10%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page46
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
392041110
392115%
5%
except:
392190190
392190410
3922-392610%
10%
25%
except:
392330100
39235010%
10%
40
except:5%
4001
400241000
400249000
401110000
401120000
4012
4013
4014
4015dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
25%, butnotless10ECU per
1unit
10%
30%
15%
dutyfree
20%
except:
401511000
4016
401700dutyfree
15%
15%
41 5%
42
420100000
4202
420320%
20%
20%
except:
from
420310000
420400
420500000
4206thegarments made ofnatural
leather30%butnotlessthan14ECU
per1kg.
5%
20%
dutyfree
43
4301
4302except leather rawmaterials
classified in4101, 4102 or
4103
except items classified in43035%
5%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page47
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
430211000
430230100
430320%
15%
15%
except:
430310 30%
except:
from
430310100thegarments made ofskinof
nonmature greenland seals.30%butnotlessthan90ECU
per1unit
from
430310900furgarments made ofmink 30%butnotlessthan150
ECU per1unit
from
430310900furgarments made ofnutria 30%butnotlessthan90ECU
per1unit
from
430310900furgarments made ofpolar fox30%butnotlessthan90ECU
per1unit
from
430310900furgarments made offox 30%butnotlessthan90ECU
per1unit
from
430310900furgarments made ofrabbit or
hare30%butnotlessthan40ECU
per1unit
from
430310900sheep skingarments 30%butnotlessthan40ECU
per1unit
from
430310900sheep skingarments andfur
garments made ofrabbit or
hareforchildren: height upto
164cm, chest upto84cm15%butnotlessthan15ECU
per1unit
from
430310900
430400000
44other furgarments 30%butnotlessthan60ECU
per1unit
5%
20%
except:
440331000-
-440335900
440721-
-440723
440820-
-440890
440890910except:5%
5%
5%
15%
45 dutyfree
46 25%
47 15%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page48
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
48
except:15%
480240
480431510
480510000
480530
4806
4807
4808
481131000,
481139000
481190900
4813
481810
481840
481890100,
481890900
4819
4821
4822
482320000
482330000
482340000
482390200
482390510
482390900except items indicated in4803
and481810%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
20%
dutyfree
5%
5%
20%
dutyfree
dutyfree
10%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
49
except:15%
4901
4902
490300000
490400000
4905
490600000
490700300
491110000
491191dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
dutyfree
50
500100000
500200000
5003
500400
500500
500600
5007dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
51 20%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page49
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
52
except:20%
5201
5202
520300000
5204
5205
5206
5207dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
5%
53
except:5%
5301
5309-53110015%
10%
54
except:10%
540210100
5404-5406
540710000
540751000
54083100020%
5%
20%
5%
5%
55
except:10%
5501-5511
550110000except:
plaitsofaramids5%
10%
56
5602
5607except:5%
20%
20%
57 30%butnotlessthan0,5
ECU per1m2
58 25%
59
except:5%
5904
59050010%
15%
60
except:10%
600230100
6002431905%
5%
61
except:20%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page50
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
6101
6102
6103
6104
6105
6106
6107
6108
6109
6110
6111
6112
611520%butnotlessthan10ECU
per1kg.
20%butnotlessthan10ECU
per1kg.
20%butnotlessthan7ECU
per1kg.
20%butnotlessthan7ECU
per1kg.
20%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
20%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan3ECU
per1kg.
20%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%
except:
611593100
6116
62dutyfree
15%
25%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page51
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
6201
6202
6203
6204
6205
6206
6207
6208
6209
6211
-25%butnotlessthan10ECU
per1kg.
25%butnotlessthan10ECU
per1kg.
25%butnotlessthan7ECU
per1kg.
25%butnotlessthan7ECU
per1kg.
25%butnotlessthan7ECU
per1kg.
25%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
15%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
25%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1kg.
except:
621132100
621133100
621142100,
621143100
635%
5%
5%
30%
except:
6305
630720000
646305
630720000
64
except:
6406
656406
65
except:
650692000 30%butnotlessthan5ECU
per1unit
66 20%
67 20%
68 15%
except:
from
680422110special tools fortreatment of
crankshaft, blocks, pistons and
other specific parts ofdiesel
engines withcapacity over
300KWtdutyfreeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page52
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
69
except:25%
6909 5%
70
except:15%
701010000
701321110-
-701321190
701331100,
701391100
701510000
7017
701920dutyfree
25%
25%
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
71
except:50%
7117 30%butnotlessthan6ECU
per1kg.
72
except:5%
7204 dutyfree
73
except:20%
730451110
730640910
731210910
7316000005%
5%
5%
5%
74 5%
75
7501-
-750400000
7505-
-7508009005%
20%
76
7601-
-760320000
7604-
761610%
10%
except:
760711900
7607201005%
5%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page53
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
78 5%
79 5%
80 5%
81
except:15%
811100 dutyfree
82
8201
8202
8203
8204
8205
820600000
8207
except:20%
5%
20%
5%
5%
5%
5%
from
820750
820760310
820770100special tools fortreatment,
crankshaft blocks, pistons and
other specific parts ofdiesel
engine withcapacity over
300KWtdutyfree
8208
8209
8210
8211
8212
821300000
8214
82155%
5%
25%
20%
25%
25%
25%
25%
83 25%
84
except:10%
8401
8402
8403
8404
8405
840620%
15%
15%
5%
20%
20%
except:
840690000 10%
from
840734engines forbuses destined for
transporting notlessthan20
passengers including driver5%
840810 5%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page54
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
840820engines forbuses destined for
transporting notlessthan20
passengers including driver5%
8409
except:5%
from
840999000components forproducing
diesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfree
8410
841121,
841122
841181100,
841182100
841182990
8412
841320%
20%
20%
20%
20%
5%
except:
from
841330900fuelpumps fordiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
8414 5%
except:
841430300 dutyfree
from
841480210turbo compressors forfeeding
bycompressed airinto
cylinders ofdiesel engines
withcapacity 300KWtdutyfree
8415 20%
except:
from
841581900 industrial airconditioners with
automatic regulation of
temperature andhumidity for
maintaining microclimate in
special premises5%
841590
8416
8417
84185%
5%
5%
20%
except:
from
841810-
841840
841920000household refrigerators and
freezers25%butnotlessthan0,3
ECU per1litre
dutyfreeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page55
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
841989900
8422equipment formedical industry dutyfree
25%
except:
842211000 20%
from
842220000;
842240000
842290000
8424equipment formedical industry dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
except:
842481
842510%
20%
except:
842520000
8426dutyfree
20%
except:
842619000
84263000010%
10%
from
842641000self-propelled lifting machines
andmechanisms onwheels
withhoisting capacity over75t5%
842691
842699900
842720
8428other self-propelled loaders
withhoisting capacity 20t10%
10%
5%
5%
except:
842810
842831000
842840000
842860000
842920%
dutyfree
20%
20%
20%
except:
from
842911000 caterpillar bulldozers with
capacity over400h.p.15%
from
842919000 wheel bulldozers withcapacity
over400h.p5%
from
842920000
842951autograders withcapacity over
300h.p.5%
10%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page56
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
842951100
842952000
8430dutyfree
5%
20%
except:
843031000,
843039000
843041000,
843049000
8431
8432-8438
8439-8441
8442
8443
8448
844900000
8451
845210
845230000
845290000
8453
8454dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
25%
5%
5%
5%
20%
except:
845430100 10%
from
845430900machines forcontinuous
moulding10%
from
845430900
845490000special equipment for
moulding ofcomponents for
diesel engines withcapacity
over300Kwtdutyfree
5%
except:
from
845490000
8455components ofspecial
moulding equipment for
manufacturing ofdiesel
engines withcapacity over
300KWtdutyfree
20%
except:
84551000
845521000
845522000
845530
845590000
8456
845710%
10%
10%
10%
5%
20%
20%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page57
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
845710000
845730000
8458treatment centres forproducing
ofblocks, cylinders 'covers,
crankshafts, connecting rods
andother specific components
ofdiesel engines withcapacity
over300Kwtdutyfree
dutyfree
20%
except:
from
845811100turning machines withdigital
programming operation for
treatment ofnon-round
components ofdiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWt
(piston rings, cams andsoon)dutyfree
from
845819910
8459highly precise automatic
turning machines fortreatment
ofcomponents forfuelsystem
ofdiesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfree
20%
except:
from
845921990machines ofdeepdrilling for
treatment components ofdiesel
engines withcapacity over
300KWt (channels for
lubricants andfuel,sprayer
andsoon)dutyfree
from
845940900highly precise boring machines
fortreatment ofbearings of
diesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfree
from
845970000
8460machines forthreading on
muffs andpipes usedfor
drilling oilandgaswells10%
20%
except:
from
846011000face-grinding machines with
digital programming operation
fortreatment ofpiston rings,
connecting rodslocks and
other specific components of
diesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfreeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page58
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
846021100circular grinding machines
withdigital programming
operation fortreatment
crankshafts ofdiesel engines
over300KWtdutyfree
846021900 10%
from
846029900special grinding machines for
treatment ofcomponents of
fuelsystem ofdiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
from
846031000cutter-grinding machines with
ofdigital programming
operation forproducing cutting
tools usedinmanufacturing of
diesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfree
846040000 10%
except:
from
846040000
846090
8461honing andfinishing machines
fortreatment ofcylinders '
bushes, fuelpumps andother
components ofdiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
15%
20%
except:
from
846130000highly precise drawing
machines fortreatment of
bearings ofdiesel engines with
capacity over300KWtdutyfree
from
846140110highly precise gear-cutting and
gear-grinding machines with
digital programming operation
fortreatment cylindrical
gearwheels fordiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
from
846140310
8462highly precise gear-shaving
machines forproducing of
gearwheel fordiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
20%
except:
from
846241900plate-punching machines 5%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page59
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
846320000
846595000
846596000
8466
8467
8468
8470knurling machines for
treatment ofdiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
5%
5%
5%
15%
5%
20%
except:
847010000
847050000
847210000
8473
847431000
84743900030%
30%
15%
5%
20%
20%
except:
from
847439000equipment formedical industry dutyfree
from
847480000
8475other machines formedical
industrydutyfree
5%
except:
from
847520000machines forproducing glass
orarticles made ofglass for
medical orhottreatment of
industrydutyfree
8476
8477
8478
847920%
dutyfree
dutyfree
2%
except:
847920 dutyfree
from
847982000machines andmechanical
devices formedical industrydutyfree
8480
8481
84835%
15%
5%
except:
from
848310510
8484
8485steelforged crankshafts for
diesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfree
5%
15%
85 except: 10%
8501 5%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page60
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
except:
850110
85012090015%
10%
from
850132990DCelectric motors withpower
50-75KWt15%
from
850133990DCelectric motors withpower
over75KWt, butnotmore
than100KWt15%
from
850140900other ACsingle-phase
asynchronous electric motors
withheight ofaxisofrotation
of250mm15%
from
850152990other ACasynchronous
poly-phase withheight ofaxis
ofrotation of250mm15%
8502
850300
85045%
5%
20%
except:
850410
850423000
85043125%
10%
30%
except:
from
850431900
8505mains transformers andsplit
transformers forTVsets5%
20%
except:
850511000
850590900
8506
850730%
5%
5%
dutyfree
850511000
850590900
8506
850730%
5%
5%
dutyfree
850511000
850590900
8506
850730%
5%
5%
dutyfree
except:
850710
85085%
20%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page61
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
850890000
8509
8510
851115%
20%
20%
15%
except:
from
8511electrical equipment forbuses'
engines destined for
transportation notlessthan20
passengers including driver5%
851140900
8513
8514dutyfree
20%
5%
from
851519000
8516automatic andsemi-automatic
machines forsoldering plates 5%
20%
except:
851690000
85175%
5%
except:
851710000
8518
8519
8520
852125%
20%
25%
30%
30%
except:
852110100
852110310
852110390
8522
852320%
20%butnotlessthan100
ECU per1unit
20%butnotlessthan30ECU
per1unit
5%
15%
except:
852320
8524
8525dutyfree
20%
5%
except:
from
852510900transmitting apparatuses for
radio andtelevision
broadcasting systemsdutyfree
from
852520900transmitting apparatuses
forradio andtelevision
broadcasting systems with
receiving devicedutyfree
852530 dutyfree
8526 20%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page62
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
except:
852610900 dutyfree
852691 dutyfree
8527 25%
8528 30%
except:
852810500
852810610,
852810690
852810710
852810730
852810750
852810780
852820200
852930%butnotlessthan80ECU
per1unit
10%
20%butnotlessthan30ECU
per1unit
30%butnotlessthan50ECU
per1unit
30%butnotlessthan80ECU
per1unit
30%butnotlessthan125
ECU per1unit
10%
5%
852990990 wave selector with
parameters 95x75x20mm and
withrange offrequencies
49-850 MHz withbuiltin
demodulator, channel selector
forsatellite receiving TV
signalsdutyfree
8530
85315%
20%
except:
853110900
8532
8533
8534
8535
8536
8537
8538
85395%
25%
25%
30%
20%
20%
5%
5%
5%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page63
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
853922
854011100;
854011300
854011500;
854011800
854012
8541
854215%
20%
5%
30%
25%
20%
except:
854211 30%
except:
854211430
8542114505%
5%
from
854211520static RAM withtwoports and
withtimeofselection from 50
upto70nsandcapacity more
than64Kb,butnotmore than
256Kbwithorganization 32K
x85%
from
854211530static RAM withtimeof
selection upto100nsand
capacity over256Kbbutnot
more than1Mbwith
organization 128K x85%
854211550 5%
from
854211650constat memory withtimeof
selection lessthan200nsand
withcapacity over256Kb,but
notmore than1Mbwith
organization 64KX85%
854211660
8542117205%
5%
from
854211830microprocessors with8-16b
processor andfrequency not
lessthan16MHz, IBM-
compatible signal processors
withfrequency over16MHz5%
from
854211850microprocessors with16-32b
processor (constructive SMD)5%
854211870 5%
from
854211910logic operating interface
circuits, providing
performance onstandards
RS-232, ARINC-429,
MIL-1553,RS-422;
microcontrollers usedinTV
sets5%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page64
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
from
854211990digital monolithic integral
circuits: programming
logically withcapacity over
2000 valves; special
processors forvideo, audio
andsynchronization forusing
inTVsetsorforming signal
forindication onTV'sscreen;
decoders forTVapparatus5%
854219 20%
except:
from
854219900signal processors forvideo,
audio, synchronization and
operation; decoders with
integral entry filters; integral
lineofdelay except TDA
4661; one-crystal teletext
decoderdutyfree
854220 20%
except:
from
854220100microcomputers and
microprocessors foroperating
TVsetswithpossibility to
operate by:
-frequency;
-4-page teletext;
-"sequence insequence"
processors;5%
from
854220900integral microcircuits: one-
crystal photoreceiver and
transmitter incodeIR-60 on
frequencies 30,33,36KHz;
bigintegral circuits withquartz
stabilization without
adjustments5%
8543 5%
except:
854330000 equipment forcovering
components ofdiesel engines
withcapacity over300KWtdutyfree
8544 25%
except:
854411100
854420
854470000
854515%
dutyfree
15%
20%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page65
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
854511000
8548000005%
5%
86
except:10%
8603
8607
860800
8609005%
5%
5%
5%
except:
860900900 20-ton containers 30%
87
8701 15%
except:
870190110
870190150-
-870190390
870190500
8701909005%
10%
5%
5%
8702 carsdestined fortransporting
notlessthan10passengers
including driver30%
8702 carsspecially destined for
medical purposesdutyfree
8702 buses destined fortransporting
notlessthan20passengers10%
8703 carsspecially destined for
medical purposesdutyfree
870310 5%
870321100 30%butnotlessthan1,1
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870321900 30%butnotlessthan0,45
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870322110 30%butnotlessthan1,3
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870322190 30%butnotlessthan1,3
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870322900 30% butnotlessthan0,5
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engineWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page66
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
870323110 30%butnotlessthan1,9
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
from
870323190newvehicles with
combustion piston engines
withvolume ofengine cylinder
over1500 cm3, butnotmore
than1800 cm3ofvolume of
engine30% butnotlessthan1,35
ECU per1cm3
from
870323190newvehicles withcombustion
piston engines withvolume of
cylinder over1800 cm3, but
notmore than3000 cm330% butnotlessthan1,9
ECU per1cm3
from
870323900second handvehicles with
combustion piston engines
withvolume ofcylinder of
engine over1500 cm3, butnot
more than1800 cm3of
volume ofengine40% butnotlessthan0,6
ECU per1cm3
from
870323900second handvehicles with
combustion piston engines and
volume ofcylinder ofengine
over1800 cm3, butnotmore
than3000 cm3ofvolume of
engine40%butnotlessthan 0,75
ECU per1cm3
870324100 40%butnotlessthan3,1
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870324900 40%butnotlessthan 1,25
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870331100 30%butnotlessthan1,3
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870331900 40%butnotlessthan0,55
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870332110 30%butnotlessthan1,9
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870332190 30% butnotlessthan1,9
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870332900 40% butnotlessthan0,75
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engineWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page67
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
870333110 40% butnotlessthan3,1
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870333190 40% butnotlessthan3,1
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870333900 40% butnotlessthan1,25
ECU per1cm3ofvolume of
engine
870390
870440%
25%
except:
870410
870421
870423910
870431
87055%
10%
10%
10%
20%
except:
870530000
870590900
8706001%
dutyfree
15%
except:
from
870600110chassis withengines forbuses
destined fortransporting not
lessthan20passengers
including driver5%
8707
8708
870915%
5%
20%
except:
870919900
871000000
8711
871200
8713
871410%
100%
25%
20%
dutyfree
10%
except:
871420000
871500
8716dutyfree
dutyfree
20%
except:
871620
8716905%
5%
88
except:30%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page68
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
8803 dutyfree
89
except:30%
8901
890200
8904005%
5%
5%
except:
890400990
890530%
15%
except:
890510
890520000
890600910,
8907100005%
30%
dutyfree
90 15%
except:
9001 20%
except:
from
900110900
900130000
900140310
900140390
900150310
900150390
9003optic fibres 5%
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
10%
except:
900319100
9004
9005
900640%
dutyfree
20%
20%
except:
900620000
900630000
900691
90075%
dutyfree
5%
20%
except:
900791-
-900792000
90085%
20%
except:WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page69
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
900890000
9009
9010
9011
9012
9013
9014
9015
901600
9018
9019
902000
9021
9022
902300
9024
9025
9026
9027
90285%
5%
5%
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
20%
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
dutyfree
5%
5%
5%
10%
10%
5%
except:
902830110
90289030% butnotlessthan6ECU
per1unit
5%
except:
902890100
903030%
dutyfree
except:
903020
903031
90303915%
10%
20%
from
903039300
903090special electronic devices for
adjustment ofTVsets5%
5%
from
903180310devices andmeasuring
machines forproducing of
diesel engines withcapacity
over300KWtdutyfree
9032
9033000005%
5%
91
except:20%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page70
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemCommodity group Tariff rate(%ofcustoms
value orECU perunit)
9101
9102
9103
9105
911130% butnotlessthan6ECU
per1unit
20% butnotlessthan3ECU
per1unit
20%, butnotlessthan3ECU
per1unit
20% butnotlessthan2ECU
per1unit
10%
except:
911110000
9112
91131010025%
15%
30%
92
except:5%
920110
920715%
15%
93 100%
94
except:30%
940130-
940180000
9402
940320-
94038000020% butnotlessthan2ECU
per1kg.
dutyfree
20% butnotlessthan2ECU
per1kg.
95
except:15%
9504 30%
except:
950440000
950490
950490900
9507
950800000special tables andarticles for
casino80%
5%
80%
10%
10%
96
except:20%
960810300
960839100
961240%
40%
5%
97 dutyfreeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page71
TABLE 6
EXCISE TAX RATES
(according toResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters
oftheRepublic ofBelarus No.252of12May1995
asamended byResolution No.538of2October 1995 )
HSCODE DESCRIPTION RATE
220300 0.3ECU perlitre
2204 (except 220410)
2204300.5ECU perlitre
220410 1ECU perlitre
2205 1ECU perlitre
220600 0.5ECU perlitre
220710000 400%, butnotless
than4ECU perlitre
220820100
2208209005ECU perlitre
220830 5ECU perlitre
220840 5ECU perlitre
220850 5ECU perlitre
220890110
2208901905ECU perlitre
220890310
from 220890390Vodka 3.5ECU perlitre
220890330
from 220890390Plum, pearorcherry
spirits excluding
liqueurs3ECU perlitre
220890510 -
2208907903ECU perlitre
from 220890530
from 220890730Spirituous juices 30%
220890910
220890990400% ,butnotless
than4ECU perlitre
2402 (except
240290000)2ECU per1000
pieces
271000330
27100035020%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page72
401110000 (except
tyres radial with
metal cord, also
tyre-covers fortyres
radial withmetal
cord)30%
from 401110000 Tyres radial with
metal cordand
tyre-covers fortyres
radial withmetal
cordforcars15%
401310100 30%
from 420310000 Leather cloth 35%
from 430230100 Plates withthemould
15sqdmandmore35%
from 430230100 Plates withthemould
upto15sqdm10%
from 430310 Collars, cuffs and
trimmings10%
from 430310 Coats, short coats,
jackets, blazers,
palatines, scarfs,
pelerines35%
570500 (only carpets) 40%
650692000 20%
701321 20%
701331 20%
701391 20%
710239000 10%
from 870321
from 870322Carswithinternal
combustion engine
withpiston ofvolume
upto1.5litres15%
from 870323 Carswithinternal
combustion engine
withpiston ofvolume
from 1.5to3.0litres20%
870323110
870332110
87033311015%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page73
from 870324 Carswithinternal
combustion engine
withpiston ofvolume
more than3.0litres25%
from 870331 Carswithdiesel
engine ofvolume up
to1.5litres15%
from 870332 Carswithdiesel
engine ofvolume
from 1.5to2.5litres20%
from 870333 Carswithdiesel
engine withvolume
more than2.5litres25%
from 870421
from 870431Trucks withcarrying
capacity upto1.25
tons10%
from 890391 Yachts 30%
from 890392 Motor boats except
ofonesofspecial use30%
from 930320 Hunting guns 20%
from 940510500 Crystal lustres and
other electric
illuminating
equipment ofcrystalNo.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page74
TABLE 7
EXPORT TARIFF RATES
(according toResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters
No.536ofSeptember 29,1995)
Classification
bycodes of
Harmonized
SystemShort name ofcommodity and
additional notesTariff rate(ECU per1,000 kg..or%
ofcustoms value)
Group 3
03 7%
030212000 420ECU
030222000 525ECU
030240 420ECU
030250 210ECU
030310000 14%
030322000 14%
0306 17%
0307 17%
Group 10
100110 17%
100190 7%
1005 10%
Group 12
1208 7%
1210 10%
1211 10%
1212 10%
Group 16
1604 7%
160430 9800 ECU
160510000 560ECU
160520000-160
540000420ECU
Group 26
260200000 4ECU
260300000 ** 28ECU
260400000 140ECU
260700000 7ECU
260800000 7ECU
261000000 3ECU
261100000 4ECU
261210 2200 ECU
261220 450ECU
261400 110ECU
261510000 30ECU
261590100 9000 ECU
261590900 500ECU
261610000 45000 ECU
261690000 2200 ECUWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page75
2617 110ECU
262011000 6ECU
262019000 6ECU
262020000 6ECU
262030000 6ECU
262040000 4ECU
262050000 30ECU
262090100 14ECU
262090200 740ECU
262090300 30ECU
262090400 14ECU
262090500 60ECU
262090600 60ECU
262090700 60ECU
262090800 56ECU
262090910 60ECU
Group 27
270900 ****** 20ECU
271000110;
271000150*** 8ECU
271000210 10ECU
271000250 14ECU
271000310 14ECU
271000330 *** 8ECU
271000350 *** 8ECU
271000370 14ECU
271000390 14ECU
271000410 8ECU
271000450 8ECU
271000510 14ECU
271000550 10ECU
271000610 **** 8ECU
271000650 **** 8ECU
271000690 8ECU
271000710 ***** 6ECU
271000750 ***** 6ECU
271000790 ***** 6ECU
271000910-271
0009901ECU
2711 *,****** 18ECU
271111000;
271121000****** 2ECU
271112-271119
0003ECU
Group 28
2805 175ECU
280511000 dutyfree
from
280519000lithium 2400 ECU
280521000 240ECU
280522000 1200 ECU
280530 4900 ECUWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page76
280530100 490ECU
280540 105ECU
280910000 49ECU
281310000 14ECU
2814 1ECU
2816 18ECU
281700000 70ECU
2818 except sub-position 281810000 25ECU
2820 120ECU
282110000 14ECU
282200000 2900 ECU
282300000 120ECU
282410000 39ECU
2825 42ECU
282570000 11ECU
282590400 11ECU
2837 42ECU
283720000 28ECU
283800000 21ECU
284700000 7%
284910000 14ECU
Group 30
30 dutyfree
3005 10%
Group 31
3102 2ECU
310221000 dutyfree
3103 3ECU
3104 0.7ECU
3105 0.7ECU
Group 34
3403 11ECU
Group 40
400241000 45ECU
400249000 45ECU
Group 41
41 200ECU
4101 130ECU
4102 100ECU
4103 70ECU
411000000 dutyfree
411100000 100ECU
Group 44
440121000 2%
440122000 except valuable species 3%
4403 6ECU
440399 except karelian birch andash-tree dutyfree
4407 6ECU
440799 except karelian birch andashtree dutyfree
4409 5ECU
Group 47
47 10%WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page77
4701 10ECU
470200000 7ECU
4703 7ECU
4704 7ECU
470421000 21ECU
4707 0.7ECU
Group 72
72 1ECU
7202 8ECU
720221-720229
0002.5ECU
720241 2.5ECU
720250000 2.5ECU
from
720299900silicocalcium 5ECU
7204 30ECU
7218-722300 6ECU
Group 73
73 1ECU
Group 74
74 except commodity items 7417,7418 200ECU
7401 100ECU
7404 500ECU
7407 90ECU
740721100 50ECU
7408 90ECU
740821000 50ECU
7409 90ECU
740921000-740
92900050ECU
7410 50ECU
741121 50ECU
Group 75
75 640ECU
7501 1000 ECU
7503 1200 ECU
7505 200ECU
750512000 200ECU
750522000 200ECU
7506 200ECU
750620000 200ECU
7507 200ECU
750800 200ECU
Group 76
7601 10ECU
7602 300ECU
7603 10ECU
7604 10ECU
7605 10ECU
7606 10ECU
7607 10ECU
7608 10ECUWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page78
7609 10ECU
7610 10ECU
7612 10ECU
7616 10ECU
Group 78
78 49ECU
Group 79
79 21ECU
Group 80
80 14ECU
Group 81
8101 105ECU
8102 110ECU
8103 10800 ECU
8104 35ECU
810420000 250ECU
8105 2800 ECU
810600 490ECU
8107 490ECU
8108 35ECU
810810900 1050 ECU
8109 980ECU
811000 200ECU
811000900 490ECU
811100 74ECU
8112 14700 ECU
811220100-
811220900780ECU
811220900 onlyaluminiumthermic chrom 17ECU
811220900 onlyelectrolytic chrom 110ECU
811230900 23500 ECU
811291310 700ECU
811299300 700ECU
811291100;
811299100700ECU
811291900 700ECU
811299900 1000 ECU
Group 88
880211900 dutyfree
880212900 dutyfree
880220900 dutyfree
880230900 dutyfree
880240900 dutyfree
Group 89
890600100 dutyfree
890800000 dutyfree
Group 93
930100000 except goods classified in9307 dutyfree
930200 except goods classified in9303, 9304 dutyfree
930510000 dutyfree
930590100 dutyfree
930690100 dutyfreeWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page79
Comments :
*Thesubstance resulting from theprocess ofdeparaffinization ofoil-products (from which
paraffin isextracted) isnotlevied withcustoms duty;
**Copper concentrates withthecontent ofarsenic more than0.6% arenotlevied withcustoms
duty;
***From November through March —2ECU;
**** From October through February —3ECU;
***** From April through August —3ECU;
****** Export tariff rates inrespect ofgasandthelikearedetermined taking intoaccount the
following proportion: 1150m3 ofgas=1000 kg..;WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page80
TABLE 8
EXPORT RENT FOR TIMBER
(according toResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters
oftheRepublic ofBelarus No458of21August 1995)
Classification ofcommodity by
codes ofHarmonized SystemName ofcommodity Rentrates
(ECU per1000 kg.)
430190000 60
from 440310990,
440399900rawbirch saw-timber 20
440310100,
44031091020
from 440320000 rawconiferous saw-timber (diameter in
upper cutoffupto13cm)0
from 440320000 rawconiferous saw-timber
(diameter inupper cutoff14-22 cm)6
440391000 200
440610000 100
440690000 100
440710100-
440710500,
440710910,
4407109305
440791 250WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page81
TABLE 9
PATENT FEES
forreceiving apatent application foraninvention or
anindustrial design .................................................. -0,8min.salary or200USD;
forconventional priority ........................................................ -0,4min.salary or100USD;
forpublishing theinformation ontheinvention
passed theexamination............................................. -0,8min.salary or200USD;
forpatent examination foroneinvention.................................. -4min.salaries or1000 USD;
forpatent examination ofindustrial design................................ -22,4min.salaries or600USD;
forappeal against anegative decision ofthe
examination onpatent application
foraninvention orindustrial design ............................ -3,6min.salaries or900USD;
forappellation against apositive decision ona
patent application foraninvention or
anindustrial design ................................................... -6min.salaries or1500 USD;
forissuing patent forinvention or
industrial design........................................................ -2,4min.salaries or600USD.
Forkeeping thepatent forinvention orindustrial design validthefollowing duties arelevied beginning
from thethirdyearsince theapplying forthepatent:
FEES
FOR INVENTION FOR INDUSTR.DESIGN
YEARS minsalaries USD minsalaries USD
Third 0,8 200 0,4 100
Forth-sixth 1 250 0,5 125
Seventh,eighth 1,2 300 0,6 150
Ninth, tenth 1,6 400 0,8 200
Eleventh-fifteenth 2,4 600 1,2 300
Sixteenth-twentieth 3 750 - -
forapplication forregistration oftrade mark orservice mark
(including examination).................................................................... -2,4min.salaries or
600USD;
forregistration oftrade mark andissuing theappropriate certificate.............. -1,2min.salaries or
300USD;
forregistration ofalicense agreement......................... -1,6min.salaries or400USD;
forregistration ofaconcession agreement ................. -2,8min.salaries or700USD
(a)Feesarelevied inBelarusian rubles fornatural andlegalpersons fromCIScountries andinfreely
convertible currency (USdollars) forallother natural andlegalpersons.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page82
TABLE 10
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AND
REGISTRATION OFINDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OBJECTS
1993 1994 Jan.-Aug.
1995
Applications forinventions received 1494 1688 750
including
from national applicants 828 683 451
from foreign applicants 666 1005 299
Patents forinventions issued 234 405 NA
including
tonational applicants 154 137 NA
toforeign applicants 80 268 NA
Applications forindustrial designs received 62 56 51
including
from national applicants 56 48 43
from foreign applicants 6 8 9
Patents forindustrial designs issued - 15 39
including
tonational applicants- 9 NA
toforeign applicants - 6 NA
Applications fortrademarks andservice marks
registration under thenational procedure
received 1724 2419 1222
including
from national applicants 729 1032 540
from foreign applicants 995 1387 682
Applications fortrademarks andservice marks
registration under theMadrid Agreement
received 1984 3951 2709
Registration oftrademarks andservice marks
under thenational procedure- 14 683
under theMadrid Agreement - 1915 NAWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page83
TABLE 11
IMPORT-WEIGHTED AVERAGE TARIFF RATES
Chapters ofHarmonized System Share innon-CIS
imports,
Jan.-Aug. 1995Average import
tariff rate
1 2 3 4
I LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL
PRODUCTS1.7 10.3
II VEGETABLE PRODUCTS 6.1 4.3
III ANIMAL ORVEGETABLE FATS
AND OILS0.9 12.2
IV PREPARED FOODSTUFFS 4.1 12.9
V MINERAL PRODUCTS 4.2 5.0
VI CHEMICAL PRODUCTS 18.2 5.6
VII PLASTICS, RUBBER AND ARTICLES
THEREOF7.0 10.4
VIII LEATHER AND ARTICLES
THEREOF0.3 9.3
IX WOOD AND ARTICLES OFWOOD 0.3 20.0
X PULP, PAPER AND PAPER
PRODUCTS1.9 10.0
XI TEXTILES AND TEXTILE ARTICLES 13.9 19.1
XII FOOTWEAR, HEADGEAR AND
ACCESSORIES0.5 17.0
XIII STONE, CLAY AND GLASS
PRODUCTS0.3 17.2
XIV PEARLS, PRECIOUS METALS AND
STONES1.9 50.0
XV BASE METALS AND METAL
PRODUCTS3.0 12.1
XVI MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT;
ELECTRICAL GOODS16.7 8.1
XVII VEHICLES AND OTHER
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT14.6 34.2
XVIII INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS 3.0 2.3
XIX ARMS AND AMMUNITION 0.0 100.0
XX MISCELLANEOUS
MANUFACTURED ARTICLES1.3 27.0
ALL PRODUCTS 100.0 14.3WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page84
ANNEX 2
LIST OFLAWS AND LEGAL ACTS
1. Civil Code, 11June1964, amended in1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1995.
2. Criminal Code
3. LawontheUseofLand
4. Customs code, 3February 1993, No2149;
5. LawonOwnership, 11December 1990;
Amendments: 23April 1992, No1620; 11June1993, No2369; 18January 1994 No2711;
6September 1995, No3855;
6. LawonPrivatisation, 19January 1993;
Amendments: 11April 1995, No3706;
7. LawonEnterprises, 14December No462;
Amendments: 23April 1992 No1620, 27January 1993 No2131, 29June1993 No2451, 10
December 1993 No2634;
8. LawonEntrepreneurship, 28May1991 No813;
Amendments: 15January 1992 No1419, 18January 1994 No2711;
9. LawonLease, 12December 1990;
Amendments: 23April 1992 No1620, 17June1993 No2427, 18January No2711
10. LawonInvestment Activities, 29May1991 No824;
Amendments: 24April 1992 No1643, 4February 1994 No2747;
11. LawonForeign Investment, 14November 1991;
Amendments: 16June1993 No2416;
12. Law onOpposing Monopolistic Activity andontheDevelopment ofCompetition,
10December 1992 No2034;
13. LawonBankruptcy, 30May1991 No826;
Amendments: 17June1993 No2427, 18January 1994 No2711;
14. LawonJoint-Stock Companies, etc,9December 1992 No2020;
Amendments: 18January 1994 No2711, 11April 1995 No3704;
15. LawonBanks andBanking Activity,14 December 1990;
Amendments: 9December 1992No2029, 16March 1994No2882, 8November 1994No3372;
16. LawonCentral Bank, 14December 1990 No464,8December 1992 No2016, 29June1993
No2453, 16March 1994 No2881, 2March 1995 No3631;
17. LawonSecurities andStock, 13March 1992 No1512;
18. LawontheFoundations ofForeign Economic Operations, 25October 1990*...
19. LawonTaxes andChanges No4anditsAmendments, 20December 1991 No1323;
Amendments: 22December 1992No2061, 10December 1993No2634, 19October 1994No
3333, 29December 1994 No3480;
20. Law onTaxes onIncomes andProfits ofEnterprises, Co-operatives, Organisations,
22December 1991 No1330;
Amendments: 17March 1992 No1525, 22December 1992 No2061, 10December 1993
No2634, 24February 1994 No2809, 29December 1994 No3480;
21. LawonPayments forLand, 18December 1991 No1314;
Amendments: 17March 1992 No1525, 23December 1992 No2067, 11June1993 No2369,
10December 1993 No2634, 28April 1994 No3005;
22. LawonPrivate Ownership ofLand, 16June1993 No2417;
Amendments: 21February 1995 No3598;
23. LawonTaxforUseofNatural Resources (Environmental Tax), 23December 1991No1335;
Amendments: 10December 1993 No2634, 1December 1994 No3419;
24. LawonTaxEnergy, 22December 1991 No1332;
Amendments: 10December 1993 No2634, 24February 1994 No2818;
25. LawonGovernment Tax,10 January 1992 No1394;
Amendments: 10December 1991No1332, 15June1993No2412, 1February 1994No2729,
4February 1994 No2752;WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page85
26. LawonPersonal Income Tax,12December 1991 No1327;
Amendments: 17March 1992 No1525, 22December 1992 No2061, 29December 1994
No3480, 3March 1995 No3632, 13April 1995 No3736;
27. LawonCharging forUsing Highways, 13April 1995 No3738;
28. LawonRealEstate Tax,23December 1991 No1337;
Amendments: 17March 1992 No1525, 22December 1992 No2061, 10December 1993
No2634, 28April 1994 No3005, 29December 1994 No3480, 3March 1995 No3632;
29. LawontheCustoms Tariff, 3February 1993 No2151;
30. LawonValue-Added Tax,19December 1991;
Amendments: 17March 1992 No1525, 22December 1992 No2061, 11June1993 No2369,
19November 1993 No2569, 10December 1993 No2634, 29December 1994 No3480,
3March 1995 No3632;
31. LawonExcise Tax,19December 1991 No1321;
Amendments: 17March 1992 No1525, 22December 1992 No2061, 10December 1993
No2634, 29December 1994 No3480, 3March 1995 No3632;
32. LawonProtection ofConsumers, 19November 1993 No2572;
33. LawonVeterinary Activity, 2December 1994 No3423;
34. LawonPatents onInventions, 5February 1993 No2177;
35. LawonPatents onIndustrial Design, 5February 1993 No2179;
36. LawonTrademarks andService Marks, 5February 1993 No2181;
37. LawonInsurance, 3June1993 No2343;
Amendments: 10December 1993 No2634;
38. Decision oftheSupreme Council onProvisions andProcedures forCurrency Regulations and
Execution ofCurrency Operations, 20March 1992 No1538;
39. Presidential Decree onTightening ofControl onImport ofAlcoholic Drinks totheCustoms
Territory oftheRepublic ofBelarus No134of5October 1994.
40. Presidential Decree onEstablishing oftheOrder ofExport-Import andCurrency Operations '
RegulationandEnhancingResponsibilityforInfringementofForeignEconomicActivityRelated
Legislation No52ofFebruary 81995.
41. Presidential Decree onFoundations ofGovernmental Regulation ofForeign Economic Activity
No56of13.February 1995
42. Presidential Decree onIntroduction ofMarking ofAlcoholic Drinks andTobacco No116of
20March 1995
43. Presidential Decree onRegulation ofProperty Management No191of17May1995
44. Presidential Decree onAbolition ofCustoms Control ontheBorder oftheRepublic ofBelarus
withRussia No208of30May1995
45. Presidential Decree onPaying OutVAT andExcise TaxonImported Goods ontheTerritory
oftheRepublic ofBelarus No300of16August 1995
46. ResolutionoftheCabinetofMinistersonProceduresforOpeningandFunctioningintheRepublic
ofBelarusofRepresentationsofForeignFirmsandOrganisationsandtheirBranches(Subsidiaries)
No242of21June1991
47. Resolution onParticularities ofFormation ofForeign Enterprises No97of24February 1992
48. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onLicensing Regulation No386of16October 1991
49. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onOrder ofReferring ofGoods andServices ofForeign
enterprises andJoint Ventures toTheir OwnProduction No421of10July1992
50. ResolutionoftheCabinetofMinistersonAdoptingoftheListofVeryImportantGoodsProducing
ofwhich Enterprises withForeign Capital pay50%ofIncome Taxduring thePeriod upto3
years No345of26May1993
51. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onRules onCustoms Valuation No278of26April 1994
52. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onCustoms Tariff Rates No298of29April 1994
53. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onCustoms Regimes No24of23August 1994
54. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onMeasures onImproving ofRegulation ofExport and
Import ofGoods No213of1December 1994
55. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onAdopting ofExport Customs Tariff Rates No218
of19April 1995WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page86
56. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onExemption ofHumanitarian Assistance fromCustoms
Duties No42of23January 1995
57. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onCustoms Tariff Rates No219of19April 1995
58. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onChanges ofCustoms Tariff Rates No340of
29June1995
59. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onAdopting Excise DutyRates onImported Goods No
252of12May1995
60. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onExport andImport ofSecurities in1995 No161/3
of29March 1995
61. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onLevying ofVAT andExcise DutyonImported Goods
No484of5September 1995
62. Resolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters onLevying ofVAT andExcise Duty No513of
15September 1995
63. LawonCertification ofProducts andServices
64. LawonUniform Measurement
65. LawonStandardisation
66. LawonForeign Exchange Regulation (Draft )
67. LawonCopyright andNeighbouring Rights (Draft)WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page87
ANNEX 3
INFORMATION ONIMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
I. OUTLINE OFSYSTEMS
There isonlyonesystem oflicensing intheRepublic ofBelarus.
II. PURPOSES AND COVERAGE OFLICENSING
1. Belarus applies import licensing onlyinorder toprotect theenvironment andthehealth of
population. Licensing isapplied tofollowing products:
3808 Chemical plant protectants
2618-2620 Industrial wastes
3915 Slags
2. Thissystem oflicensing isapplied toimports oftheabove products from allcountries.
3. Thelicensing doesnotaimatlimiting theamount orthevalue ofimported goods.
Alternative measures ofcontrolling imports thatmayaffect theenvironment orthehealth of
population havebeenstudied andthelicensing hasbeenfound tobethemost effective measure.
4. Licensing isapplied inconformity withAnnex 3totheResolution No.213oftheCabinet of
Ministers "Onmeasures onperfection ofregulation export andimport ofgoods" of1December 1994.
Thelistofproducts canbechanged onlybyResolution oftheCabinet ofMinisters. TheCabinet
ofMinisters canabrogate import licensing byresolution without legislative approval.
III. PROCEDURES
1. Since thereareneither import quotas norotherlimits onimport value,only paragraph "g"applies.
(g) Licences aregranted bytheMinistry ofForeign Economic Relations ifapermit
haspreviously beenissued bytheMinistry ofAgriculture andFood Products in
thecaseofherbicides, fungicides, orinsecticides usedinagriculture; bytheMinistry
ofEcology inthecaseofindustrial wastes andslags, based ontheexistence ofsafe
reprocessingfacilitiesinBelarus;bytheMinistryofHealthinthecaseofinsecticides
utilized forhuman beings orinhuman dwellings, otherchemical substances utilized
forhuman beings andrelated toHSsub-group 3808.
2.(a) Theapplication foralicence canbesubmitted atanytime. According tothe"Regulation on
import andexport licensing procedure intheRepublic ofBelarus" (Resolution No.213ofthe
Cabinet ofMinisters of1December 1994), adecision mustbetaken within 15daysofthedate
atwhich allnecessary documents havebeensubmitted totheMinistry forForeign Economic
Relations. Inpractice, adecision isnormally taken within 7days. Thetimerequired foradecision
isthesame foralleconomic operators anddoesnotdepend ontheterms ofdelivery.
(b) Alicence cannot begranted immediately onrequest.
(c) There arenoseasonal oranyother limitations onlicence applications.
(d) SeeSection III.1.g.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page88
3. Anapplication foralicence canonlyberefused forsubstantive reasons suchasthefollowing:
- absence ofsafereprocessing facilities foraspecific typeofindustrial waste inBelarus;
- notallnecessary documents havebeensubmitted.
Theapplicant isinformed ofthereasons foranyrefusal. Theapplicant hastherighttoappeal
anegative decision before acourt.
V. ELIGIBILITY OFIMPORTS TOAPPLY FOR LICENCE
AllBelarusian economic operators maybecome involved inforeign tradeandapply foranimport
licence oncetheyhavebeenregistered bytheauthorities.
VI. DOCUMENTATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION FOR
LICENCES
1. Alicence application must include thefollowing information:
- Name ofcompany, address;
- State registration number aseconomic operator;
- Consumer ofthegoods;
- Country oforigin ofgoods;
- Country ofdestination ofgoods;
- Customs office which willclear theimports;
- Term ofvalidity ofthelicence (according toapplication);
- Character ofthetransaction (e.g.barter orcashpayment);
- Currency ofpayment;
- Description ofthegoods;
- HSCode;
- Quantity;
- Value (thousand US$);
- Basis forthelicence 'sapplication (e.g.acontract);
- Ministry bywhich theapplication hasbeenapproved;
- Name, function, signature oftheresponsible manager.
Theapplicant isalsorequired tosupply theoriginal andacopyoftheimport contract, anda
copyofthedocument ofState registration.
2. Uponactualimportation,theimportlicenceissuedbytheMinistryforForeignEconomicRelations
isrequired besides thesetofdocuments necessary forcustoms formalities.
3. There isanadministrative charge forissuing alicence of10minimum salaries (about US$50)
forasingle licence andof15minimal salaries (about US$75) forageneral licence. Thecharge ispaid
totheState budget.
4. There isnodeposit noradvance payment associated withtheissue oflicences.
VII. CONDITIONS OFLICENSING
1. Theperiod ofvalidity ofanimport licence is1yearfromthedateofissue bytheMFER. The
period ofvalidity canbeprolonged uponsubmission ofanofficial request totheMFER andpayment
ofafeeamounting to50percentofthenormal licence fee.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page89
2. There isnopenalty forthenon-utilisation ofalicence orofaportion ofalicence.
3. Import licences arenottransferable between importers. Each licence isissued foraspecific
economic operator. There isapossibility ofcancelling alicence issued foroneeconomic operator
andsimultaneously granting thesame licence toanother economic operator.
4. There arenoother conditions attached totheissue ofalicence.
VIII. OTHER PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Apart fromimport licensing thereareonlystandard procedures related, forexample, totechnical
standards, sanitary andhygienic requirements forimported goods.
2. Licensing isnotaprecondition forobtaining foreign exchange.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page90
ANNEX 4
INFORMATION ONIMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION
OFTHE CUSTOMS VALUATION AGREEMENT
1. Concerning Article 1:
(a) Sales between related persons:
(i) Aresalesbetween related persons subject tospecial provisions?
Customs valuation isregulated byResolution No.278oftheCabinet ofMinisters of
26April 1994, entitled "Rules ofCustoms Valuation ofGoods Imported intotheCustoms
Territory oftheRepublic ofBelarus" (subsequently: "Rules").
Paragraph 13.5oftheRules includes definitions ofrelated persons. According totheRules,
customs value isthetransaction value iftheparties tothetransaction arenotrelated persons,
oriftheimporter proves thattherelationship between theparties didnotaffect thetransaction
value.Otherwise,theothermethodsofvaluationprovidedforbythecustomsvaluationagreement
(subsequently: "Agreement") aretobeapplied.
(ii) Isthefactofintercompany prices prima facieconsidered asgrounds forregarding therespective
prices asbeing influenced?
Prices inintra-firm transactions arenot,prima facie, regarded asbeing influenced bythe
relationship between buyer andseller. Thecircumstances ofthesaleareexamined onlyif
additional evidence suggests thatthepricewasinfluenced bytherelationship. Forexample, the
pricemight diverge widely fromthecustoms value previously determined foridentical orsimilar
products.
(iii) What istheprovision forgiving thecommunication oftheafore-mentioned grounds inwriting
iftheimporter sorequests? (Article 1.2(a))
According toParagraph 8oftheRules, thecustoms administration istopresent, within one
month, awritten explanation ofwhythedeclared customs value cannot beaccepted, ifrequested
bytheimporter.
(iv) How hasArticle 1.2(b) beenimplemented?
According toParagraph 13.5oftheRules, thecustoms administration accept transaction value
ascustoms value iftheimporter proves thattherelationship between theparties didnotaffect
thetransaction value. Theimporter maydosobydemonstrating thatthetransaction value closely
approximates tooneofthethree testvalues described inArticle 1.2(b) oftheAgreement.
(b) Price oflostanddamaged goods:
Arethere anyspecial provisions orpractical arrangements concerning thevaluation oflostand
damaged goods?
These items areregulated under the"Provisional Instruction ontheMethod ofCorrecting the
Customs Value", approved bytheOrder oftheChairman oftheStateCustoms Committee No.
144-OD of31May1994.
2. How hastheprovision ofArticle 4toallow theimporter anoption toreverse theorder of
application ofArticles 5and6beenimplemented?WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page91
According totheParagraph 11oftheRules, thededuction method (Article 5)andthecomputed
value method (Article 6)areusedintheorder requested bytheimporter.
3. How hastheArticle 5.2beenimplemented?
According toParagraphs 24,25and26oftheRules, thededuction method (Article 5)canbe
applied onlyiftheimported goods aresoldinthecustoms territory ofBelarus inthecondition
asimported. Preparations arebeing made tobring these provisions intoaccordance with
Article 5.2oftheAgreement.
4. How hastheArticle 6.2beenimplemented?
Paragraph 6oftheRules states thatinorder topermit thedeclared value tobeverified, the
importer shallprovide allnecessary information, ifrequired, bythecustoms administration,
andshallalsoprove itstruthifnecessary. Theimporter (whoisalways anatural orlegalperson
resident inBelarus) may, butneednot,present forexamination theaccounts orsimilar records
oftheproducer oftheimported goods. Noprovisions existforBelarusian customs authorities
verifying information inanother country.
5. Concerning Article 7:
(a) What provisions havebeenmade formaking value determinations pursuant toArticle 7?
Theappropriate provisions areinParagraph 28oftheRules. Ifthecustoms value oftheimported
goods cannot bedetermined under themethods described inArticles 1through 6,inclusive,
oftheAgreement,orifthecustomsadministrationconsiderthesemethodsnotapplicable,customs
value shallbedetermined using other methods inaccordance withtheprinciples andgeneral
provisions oftheAgreement andofArticle VIIofGATT 1994.
(b) WhatistheprovisionforinformingtheimporterofthecustomsvaluedeterminedunderArticle7?
Inthiscasethecustoms administration shallpresent totheimporter inwritten form allthe
information usedforthecalculation (Paragraph 28oftheRules).
(c) Aretheprohibitions found inArticle 7.2delineated?
According toParagraph 29oftheRules, thefollowing datacannot beusedtodetermine customs
value:
- theselling price intheinternal market ofBelarus;
- theprice ofgoods forexport toathirdcountry;
- aprice fixed without reasonable confirmation;
- theprice ofgoods originating from Belarus.
6. How havetheoptions found inArticle 8.2beenhandled? Incaseoff.o.b. application, are
ex-factory prices alsoaccepted?
TheRules define customs value onac.i.f. basis, including alltheitems listed inArticle 8.2(a),
(b)and(c)oftheAgreement.
7. Where istherateofexchange published, asrequired byArticle 9.1?
Therateofexchange ispublished intheofficial publications oftheNational Bank.
8. What steps havebeentaken toensure confidentiality, asrequired byArticle 10?WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page92
Theappropriate measures aredefined inParagraph 9oftheRules.
Datarelating tothecustoms value ofimported goods, declared asconfidential orconsidered
asacommercial secret, maynotbepassed tothirdparties bythecustoms administration without
thepermission oftheperson providing suchinformation, except under special circumstances
defined bytheappropriate legislation concerning theadministration ofjudicial proceedings.
9. Concerning Article 11:
(a,b)What rights ofappeal areopentotheimporter oranyother person? Howishetobeinformed
ofhisrighttofurther appeal?
Paragraph 8oftheRules permits theimporter oranyother person toappeal against adecision
bythecustoms administration concerning thedetermination ofcustoms value. According to
Belarusian legislation, suchanappeal should beaddressed, inthefirstinstance, totheHead
oftherespective customs office. Anappeal against thisdecision should beaddressed tothe
Chairman oftheStateCustoms Committee. Further appeals maybelaunched before thecommon
district court, common citycourt, economic court andSupreme Economic Court.
10. Provide information onthepublication asrequired byArticle 12,of:
(a)(i) therelevant national laws-
LawontheCustoms Tariff of3February 1993; Customs Code of3February 1993: published
intheOfficial Journal oftheSupreme Council andsimultaneously innewspapers andother
periodicals.
(ii) theregulations concerning theapplication oftheAgreement-
Resolution No.278oftheCabinet ofMinisters of26April 1994, entitled "Rules onCustoms
Valuation ofGoods Imported totheCustoms Territory oftheRepublic ofBelarus": Publication
ofDecrees andDecisions oftheCabinet ofMinisters; national newspapers andperiodicals.
(iii) thejuridicaldecisionandadministrativerulingsofgeneralapplicationrelatingtotheAgreement-
Provision onMethod andConditions ofDeclaring theCustoms Value ofGoods Imported in
theTerritory oftheRepublic ofBelarus; Instruction onFilling inaDeclaration ofCustoms
Value; Provisional Instruction ontheMethod ofCorrecting theCustoms Value -allapproved
bytheOrder oftheChairman oftheStateCustoms Committee oftheRepublic ofBelarus No.
144-OD of31May, 1994: special publications distributed bytheState Customs Committee.
(iv) general orspecific lawsbeing referred tointherules ofimplementation orapplication -
Administrative Code oftheRepublic ofBelarus, CivilCode oftheRepublic ofBelarus: Official
Journal oftheSupreme Council; national newspapers andperiodicals.
(b) Isthepublication offurther rules anticipated? Which topics would theycover?
Atpresent therearenoplans formajor changes in,oradditions totherulesforcustoms valuation.
11. Questions concerning Article 13:
(a,b)Howistheobligation ofArticle 13(lastsentence) being dealtwithintherespective legislation?
Have additional explanations beenlaiddown?WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page93
Paragraph 1.6ofthe"Provision onMethod andConditions ofDeclaring theCustoms Value
ofGoods Imported intotheTerritory oftheRepublic ofBelarus" states thatthecustoms body
mayallow theimporter towithdraw theimported goods fromCustoms provided thattheimporter
submits awritten application, andthatsufficient guarantee isprovided forthepayment ofcustoms
duties andfeesforwhich thegoods maybeliable.
12. Questions concerning Article 16:
(a,b) Does therespective national legislation contain aprovision requiring customs authorities togive
anexplanation inwriting astohowthecustoms value wasdetermined? Arethere anyfurther
regulations concerning anabove-mentioned request?
Under Paragraph 8oftheRules, ifrequested bytheimporter, thecustoms administration shall
explain inwriting, within onemonth, themethod ofhowcustoms value hasbeendetermined.
13. How havetheInterpretative Notes oftheAgreement beenincluded?
Theprovisions anddefinitions oftheInterpretative Notes oftheAgreement havebeenfullytaken
intoaccount when theregulation forcustoms valuation inBelarus wasdrawn up.
14. Howhavetheprovisions oftheDecision of26April 1984intheTreatment ofInterest Charges
intheCustoms Value ofImported Goods (Val/6/Rev.1) beenimplemented?
15. Forthose countries applying paragraph 2oftheDecision of24September 1984ontheValuation
ofCarrier Media Bearing Software forData Processing Equipment (Val/8), howhave the
provisions ofthisparagraph beenimplemented?
Duetotechnical problems, these documents wereunavailable when thisAnnex wasprepared.
Thequestions willbeanswered assoonaspossible.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page94
ANNEX 5
INFORMATION ONTECHNICAL BARRIERS TOTRADE
1. Description ofrelevant laws, regulations, administrative orders, etc.,relating toimplementation
andadministration oftechnical barriers totrade.
Thefollowing legalactsregulate standardization andconformity assessment:
Law oftheRepublic ofBelarus "On Protection ofConsumers 'Rights" adopted on
19December 1994 andentered intoforce on1January 1995: Thelawestablishes therights of
consumers inaccordance withUNResolution 39/248 "Guidelines forConsumer Protection". Article
13entitled "Right ofaconsumer toproduct safety" states thatproducts, which mustsatisfy requirements
related tothesecurity oflife,health, orproperty ofconsumer ortoenvironmental protection, aresubject
toobligatory certification intheNational System ofCertification followed bymarking oftheproducts
byasignofconformity totheserequirements. Thisrequirement concerns bothdomestic andimported
goods.
Thelistofproducts subject toobligatory certification inBelarus isdefined bytheResolution
No.635oftheCabinetofMinistersof22September1993"Ontheintroductionofobligatorycertification
ofconsumer goods andservices" (inforce from 01January 1994) andbyResolution No.1 ofthe
Committee onStandardization, Metrology andCertification (BELSTANDART) of28February 1994.
Drafts laws"Onstandardization", "Oncertification ofproducts andservices", "Onensuring
uniformity ofmeasurements" havebeenelaborated andadopted inthefirstreading bytheSupreme
Council.
TheState System ofStandardization, theNational System ofCertification andtheSystem of
Accreditation havebeenestablished inaccordance withtherequirements ofinternational standards
ISOandIEC, andEuropean Standards EN45000 andEN29000.
TheStateSystemofStandardizationandthedraftlaw"OnStandardization"establishthefollowing
obligatory requirements:
- requirements ofstandards related tothesecurity oflife,health andproperty ofcitizens,
environmental protection, interchangeability andcompatibility;
- other requirements ifthemanufacturer hasmade awritten application onconformity of
hisproducts tothese requirements.
Ifobligatory standards areviolated, Bodies ofState Supervision forObservance ofStandards
havetherighttoimpose finesamounting to25percentofvalue ofsoldproducts. Thisprocedure
isestablished byResolution No.360 oftheCabinet ofMinisters of2June1993. Iftherequirements
onobligatorycertificationofproductsareviolated,themanufacturer(seller)issubjecttoafineamounting
to100percentofthevalue ofsoldproducts. Thisfineisestablished bythelaw"OnProtection of
Consumers 'Rights" inrespect ofconsumer goods, andalsoincluded inthedraftlaw"Oncertification
ofproducts andservices" inrespect ofother products andservices.
2.(a) Theprocedure forelaborating standards andequivalent documents isestablished bythestandard
oftheState System ofStandardization (SSS) -STB1.2.-93 SSSoftheRepublic ofBelarus.
Procedure ofelaboration andofadoption oflaws".
(b) Anenquiry service hasbeenestablished forallcountries toprovide reliable information on
standardizationandconformityassessment(certification),aswellasonstandards,technicalnorms
andother datainthisarea, inconformity withtherequirements ofArticles 10.1and10.3ofWT/ACC/BLR/1
Page95
theWTO Agreement onTechnical Barriers toTrade: Committee onStandardization, Metrology
andCertification (BELSTANDART) -National organ forstandardization, metrology and
certification
Address: 93,Starovilensky trakt, Minsk, 220053, Belarus.
Ph.(0172) 375213,fax(0172) 372588.
(c) Consultations inconformity withArticle 14andother special functions oftheAgreement related
toallissues intheareaofstandardization, metrology andconformity assessment (certification)
areconducted bytheCommittee onStandardization, Metrology and Certification
(BELSTANDART).
Address: BELSTANDART ,93,Starovilensky trakt, Minsk, 220053, Belarus.
Ph.(0172) 375213,fax(0172) 372588.
(d) Seetheparagraph (c).
(e) TheCommittee onStandardization, Metrology andCertification (BELSTANDART) isa
government authority which isresponsible atthenational levelfortheprocedures ofnotification
intheareaofstandardization, metrology, andconformity assessment (certification) accordingly
toArticles 10.10 and10.11 oftheWTO Agreement.
(f) Theprocedure forpreliminary information onpreparation ofnewtechnical regulations andof
changes intechnical regulations isdefined bytheStateSystem ofStandardization oftheRepublic
ofBelarus.WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page96
ANNEX 6
LIST OFTRADE AND INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS
No. State Trade
regimeTrade agreements
(signature date)Investment
agreements
(signature date)
1 Austria mfn 02.10.92 xx
2 Azerbaijan xx
3 Bulgaria mfn 11.07.91 xx
4 China mfn 20.01.92 11.01.93
5 CIS freetrade 15.04.94 24.12.93
6 Cuba mfn 08.02.92
7 Czech Republic mfn 08.02.94 xx
8 Denmark x 07.11.94 xx
9European Union mfn 06.03.95
10 Finland mfn 20.05.92 28.10.92
11 France 28.10.93
12 Georgia xx xx
13 Germany x 02.04.93 02.04.93
14 Great Britain x 01.03.94 01.03.94
15 Hungary mfn 11.12.91 xx
16 India mfn 14.05.93 xx
17 Iran mfn 11.05.94 14.07.95
18 Italy 25.07.95
19 Korean PDR mfn 19.04.91
20 Kuwait mfn 25.05.92
21 Kyrgyzstan xx xx
22 Lithuania mfn 13.12.94 xx
23 Latvia mfn 21.02.94 xx
24 Moldova freetrade 16.06.93
25 Mongolia mfn 24.01.92
26 Netherlands 11.04.95
27 Poland mfn 10.10.91 April, 92
28 Romania mfn 28.04.92 27.05.95
29 Russia freetrade 13.11.92
30 Russia customs union 06.01.95
31 Slovakia mfn 10.02.94 xx
32 Slovenia x 03.06.91 xx
33 Sweden mfn 10.03.94 20.12.94
34 Switzerland mfn 28.05.93 28.05.93
35 Turkey mfn 08.09.93 08.08.95
36 USA mfn 01.06.90 15.01.94WT/ACC/BLR/1
Page97
No. State Trade
regimeTrade agreements
(signature date)Investment
agreements
(signature date)
37 Ukraine freetrade 17.12.92 xx
38 Uzbekistan freetrade 21.01.93
39 Vietnam mfn 19.03.92 08.07.92
Notes: x-trade regime notdefined;
xx-agreement under preparation.