The special customs tax of 100% imposed by the Tiraspol regime on all the Moldovan imports into the region has been waived for certain categories of goods including food, drugs and construction materials, under an agreement reached by the Chisinau-Tiraspol confidence-building working group for economic matters. Economy deputy minister Octavian Calmic, Chisinau’s reprehensive to the group, has told Info-Prim Neo the measure could unblock deliveries of Moldovan goods to the eastern side of the Nistru after they were practically ceased with the introduction of that tax in 2006. The purpose of the measure is to enable Tiraspol to enjoy the foreign funds provided in technical assistance to Moldova. The next meeting of the working group for economic matters is to take place in Chisinau in the second half of April and will address banking issues, Calmic revealed. A separate joint working group was proposed to be established to supervise customs management. The activity of the confidence-building working groups was resumed in February. The special customs tax of 100% on Moldovan imports into the region was introduced in response to what the separatist authorities called “an economic blockade” imposed by Moldova.