Moldovan businesses started to use export quota on wine offered by EU

The Moldovan winemakers in January asked for authorizations for exporting over 15% of the amount of wine allowed by the European Union for 2009 under the autonomous trade regime, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Trade Igor Dodon said, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. The export quota on wine granted by the EU for this year is 700,000 decaliters, up 17% from last year. In 2008, the Moldovan companies fully used the quota offered by the EU and exported 600,000 decaliters of wine duty-free. Romania, Czech Republic and Poland were among the main export countries. The EU quota on sugar was 93% used, on barley – 40.71% used, while on corn – 45.72% used. The export quota on sugar this year is 18,000 tonnes, up 20% from 2008, on barley – 25,000 tonnes, on corn – 20,000 tonnes, on wheat - 30,000 tonnes. The quota on grains is by 33% higher than last year. Moldova used only the quotas on these four types of products of the 12 included in the preferential trade regime. Moldova did not export animal products because it has not yet fulfilled all the conditions for obtaining the status of third country for exports of animal products to the EU. This year, Moldova hopes to export eggs and meat products. The EU granted a quota of 95 million eggs for 2009. The products that have not been included in the system of autonomous trade preferences can be exported to the EU under free trade regime. The European Union is Moldova’s major commercial partner. Moldova’s exports to the EU in 2008 made up 51.3%, as against 50.5% in 2007. Over 76% of the foreign direct investment attracted by Moldova come from the EU.