On 6 October 2016, the Eurasian Economic Commission announced that the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its Member States and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam entered into force on 5 October 2016. The EAEU consists of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. According to the announcement, the Vietnamese government will eliminate 59% of duties on goods from EAEU members immediately and gradually reduce the rates…
The State Customs Committee (SCC), in accordance with sub-paragraph 9.4 of paragraph 9 of Directive № 4 of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated December 31, 2010 “On the development of entrepreneurship and stimulating business activity in Belarus” held a public discussion of the 1100 page draft Treaty on the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (проекту Договора о таможенном кодексе Евразийского экономического союза). The SCC invited all interested parties to review…
The State Customs Committee announced that effective 1 September 2016, restrictions on the export of fuel from Belarus were eliminated. This action was the result of passage on 1 July 2016 of Council of Ministers of Belarus Decision № 526, which repealed Council of Ministers Resolution № 753 of 10 June 2011 “On some issues of regulation of export of motor fuel from the territory of the Republic of Belarus” and № 1554 of 18…
On 6 September 2016, the State Customs Committee (SCC) announced that it had established a special electronic portal for individuals to file information about goods and vehicles crossing the Belarus customs border. Passengers who fill out the on-line information may print out the completed form with its unique identification number (УИНП) and bar code and present it at the border to significantly speed up customs clearance.
On June 14, 2016, the Federal Register published Presidential Notice of June 10, 2016 – Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions and Policies of Certain Members of the Government of Belarus and Other Persons to Undermine Belarus’s Democratic Processes or Institutions which extends for an additional year the national emergency first declared by Executive Order 13405 dated June 16, 2016 to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national…
On April 29, 2016, the Department of the Treasury, announced that in consultation and coordination with the Department of State, it is extending the authorization by general license of transactions involving certain Belarusian entities blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13405. This license does not generally authorize the release of property blocked pursuant to E.O. 13405. This authorization expires on October 31, 2016, unless extended or revoked.
On 27 February 2016, the Official Journal published Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/280 of 25 February 2016 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Belarus (the Decision), Council Regulation (EU) 2016/277 of 25 February 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (the Regulation) and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/276 of 25 February 2016 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus (the…
On October 29, 2015, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Belarus-related General License No. 2, authorizing transactions otherwise prohibited by, and involving Belarusian entities blocked pursuant to, Executive Order 13405. The general license is effective only from October 30, 2015 through April 30, 2016, unless extended or revoked. General License No. 2 applies to all Belarusian entities currently identified as specially designated nationals (SDNs) pursuant to Executive Order 13405,…
On June 12,2015, the Federal Register published the President’s Notice of June 10, 2015—Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions and Policies of Certain Members of the Government of Belarus and Other Persons to Undermine Belarus’s Democratic Processes or Institutions, which extends for an additional year the national emergency first declared in Executive Order (EO) 13405 of June 16, 2006. The EO was declared to deal with the unusual and extraordinary…