Exceptions to free trade regime with Ukraine to be annulled

The Government of Moldova approved a decision to open talks with Ukraine on signing a protocol whereby to annul the exceptions to the free trade regime in the bilateral commercial relations, Info-Prim Neo reports. The free trade agreement between Moldova and Ukraine was signed in 2003. Later, by a protocol signed in April 2009, the sugar, ethyl alcohol and several other products were excluded from the free trade regime in order to protect the home market and national producers. Thus, Moldova started to impose customs duties on the import of these products from Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities did the same. Deputy Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac said the signing of the protocol to cancel all the exceptions to the free trade agreement with Ukraine will be a mutually advantageous step aimed at fostering bilateral trade. According to statistical data, in the first half of 2010 Ukraine was Moldova’s fifth largest export partner, after Russia Romania, Italy and Turkey. Moldova’s exports to Ukraine totaled US$44.2 million, which is 110% compared with the corresponding period last year.