Support The Moscow Times!

Eurasian Union Mulls Restrictions on Duty-Free Online Shopping

The new proposals are due to be debated by the commission on Monday, Lenta.ru reported. Andrei Makhonin / Vedomosti

The Eurasian Economic Union's customs allowance for overseas online shopping could fall from 1,000 euros to 150 euros if new proposals by the union's regulatory body go ahead, the Vedomosti newspaper reported Monday.

The Eurasian Economic Commission is also mulling lowering the accompanying weight limit from 31 kilograms to 10. Purchases falling within the new limits would come with a flat 25 euro fee; those exceeding them would additionally be subject to customs duties.

Both Vedomosti and news website Lenta.ru have referred to the new restrictions as an attempt to practically scrap duty-free online shopping within the EEU.

The trading bloc came into being in January 2015, with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan as founding members, and has now been expanded to encompass Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

The new proposals are due to be debated by the commission on Monday, Lenta.ru reported. According to Vedomosti, they have already been endorsed by the Belarussian and Kazakh delegations.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more